Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls Minnesota

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota . . . living the Gospel courageously with energy, spirit, peace!

The Franciscan Sisters are a community of women religious called to live the Gospel joyfully and to reverence the earth and all of God’s creation. Our work and ministries enhance spiritual life, inspire personal dignity, foster social justice and model the joy and simplicity of the Franciscan way of life.

We are excited for this year’s Give to the Max appeal. We’re happy to report we have $35,500 in matching funds—inspiring us to set our Give to the Max fundraising goal at $71,000. These matching funds are made possible by 13 generous donors. Many thanks to these special friends who know our community and the impact of our mission and ministries.

All funds raised on November 20 support our Franciscan ministries. We have sisters addressing the needs of immigrants here in Minnesota and along the Texas/Mexico border, teaching ESL in central Minnesota, and serving the homeless population in San Francisco. The sisters’ efforts advocating for social justice, rights for people on the margins and care of the earth exemplifies our Franciscan values and commitment to the poor.

A variety of ministries and programs extend the Franciscan values out into the world. Integral Ecology promotes care of creation and social justice, responding to the cry of earth and the cry of the poor and advocating for those on the margins who are without a voice in mainstream society. Franciscan values and spirituality are nurtured through the sisters’ relationship with Franciscan Associates, lay people who walk with and support the sisters within the context of their own lives. Outreach activities include monthly Taizé services, Good Friday Silent Walk for Peace, traditional Blessing of the Animals, spiritual retreats and other opportunities for prayer and reflection.    

In Mexico, the Franciscan Sisters lead a vibrant mission in the rural Parish of San Rafael that provides pastoral care, trains missionaries and assists girls in getting a high school education. Sisters nurture adults and children in their faith formation and seek innovative and intentional ways to be a Franciscan presence in the lives of young people. In 2022, we expanded the mission to Saltillo, a large city about an hour from San Rafael. In Saltillo, the sisters offer housing and other services for college students with a goal to help young women succeed in higher education while living in a Franciscan community. Donations through GTTM support the Mexico mission in San Rafael and Saltillo.    

St. Francis Music Center, a community school serving Little Falls and the surrounding rural areas, provides music lessons and enrichment programs in the performing arts. Over 220 students take lessons each week at the Music Center. Generous financial aid ensures opportunity for all who wish to participate. Your Give to the Max donation allows us to offer a rich music and performing arts curriculum—keeping the arts alive in rural central Minnesota!