FSSH Associate Mission Statement
With joy and compassion
we live the Gospel in the spirit of Francis and Clare
through prayer and works of neighborly love.
An invitation to consider:
- Do you feel drawn to connect with others who share a desire for prayer, simplicity, community, compassion, and care for creation?
- Are you seeking to live your life more intentionally through prayer, community, and service?
Those drawn to the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare are invited to walk with us as Associates. Together, Sisters and Associates strive to live the Gospel with joy, rooted in the Franciscan values of simplicity, humility, and love for all creation.
The FSSH Associate relationship offers a way for those who wish to live the Gospel message in their homes, parish, communities, and everyday lives.
Who is an Associate?
An Associate is someone who says YES to the inner call of God to live in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare. The Associate way of life is not about leaving one’s life behind, but living it more deeply, more intentionally, more lovingly.
It is a way of belonging without withdrawing standing within ordinary responsibilities while seeing them through the lens of the Gospel. This vocation does not ask us to escape the world, but to move through it with a different heart: attentive, compassionate, and awake to God’s presence in daily life.
To be an Associate is to enter a relationship with God, with the community, and with the wider world. It is a commitment to ongoing conversion and to allowing one’s life, however imperfect, to become an instrument of peace and hope.
How do Associates live their vocation?
Associates live their vocation through the quiet faithfulness of everyday life. Family, work, relationships, and responsibilities become the very place where the Gospel is practiced and embodied.
To live as an Associate is to cultivate a way of seeing and being choosing simplicity amid excess, presence amid distraction, and compassion amid indifference. This life finds expression through prayer, gentle service, care for others, reverence for creation, and a steady desire to walk through the world with a Franciscan heart.
No single pattern defines every Associate. Each life becomes a unique response to grace, grounded in love, attentiveness, and hope.
“I feel very happy and proud to be an Associate. Being an Associate inspires me daily to live the Gospel message more fully. Daily I wear the San Damiano Crucifix which reminds me of my connection to the FSSH Family and Franciscans throughout the world. This challenges me to live my faith in the footsteeps of St. Francis and St. Clare as I care for some of God's most vulnerable children."
Waren Tsafa
Gboko, Nigeria
"My Associate Commitment has deepened my appreciation for my vocation to care for the sick, the elderly, and the dying at Sacred Heart in Avilla, Indiana. Serving as a chaplain in a founding ministry of the FSSH brings me great joy, as I am blessed to continue the legacy of the many sisters who devoted their lives to Jesus’ healing ministry. Their witness continually inspires me to live in the spirit of St. Francis, embracing the values of service to the poor, reverence for life, and a faithful dedication to the Ascension Living Mission."
Tom Novy
Avilla, IN
"What draws you to the Associate way of life? I enjoy sharing my spiritual journey with the sisters and other associates. It's my chosen family where I get to be with my brothers and sisters, despite their religious denomination. It reminds me that we are united and our diversity means I am constantly learning from others. Some of us are senior citizens, others are from different countries, and some love rock music or nature, to name a few. Each day, I look for the little miracles and get letters, texts and Intercom messages from others doing the same."
Johana Lozano
Los Angeles, CA
"I became an Associate because I was searching for a way of deepening my faith and spiritual life and found my journey with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The Sisters are mentors to me and I have been blessed with cherished friendships in the process of embracing their Franciscan spirituality and sharing in God's divine love."
Diane Hermle
Frankfort, IL
Come and discover how the Franciscan heart beats in you.
The Path Includes:
The Journey Begins
Becoming an Associate is a mutual process of listening to God, to one another and to the deeper stirrings of your heart
Inquiry
The Associate way of life offers a welcoming path of companionship, discernment, and shared mission within the Charism of the FSSH.
Discernment
During this period, you will learn more about the Franciscan way of life, share in conversation and prayer, and explore what this commitment might mean for you.
Formation
Participants meet regularly with a companion who walks with them in a spirit of listening guided by the path of St. Francis and St. Clare and the Mission and Charism of the FSSH.
Initial Commitment
A formal yet personal decision to commit to the Associate Way of Life which is celebrated with Associates Sisters, Family and Friends.
Living the Commitment
A deepening of relationship through gatherings, shared service, prayer, and continual formation, nurturing relationships and living the FSSH charism together.
You will not walk this path alone. Sisters and Associates alike walk with you
listening, encouraging, and praying with you along the way.
Common Questions About Becoming an Associate
Learn about eligibility, time commitments, and what it means to join the Franciscan Associates. This section offers guidance for discerning whether this Franciscan way of life resonates with your faith and life at this time.
Who can become an Associate?
Any adult who feels called to deepen their faith through Franciscan spirituality and commit to living Gospel values can apply. There are no religious vows required, and Associates come from diverse backgrounds.What does the Associate commitment look like in daily life and over time?
The time commitment of an Associate reflects a lived response to God’s call rather than a fixed schedule. This way of life is expressed through prayer, community, and works of neighborly love woven into daily life. Commitment deepens as vocation deepens.
Are there any fees or donations required?
There is no mandatory fee to become an Associate. Contributions are voluntary and support the mission of the Franciscan Sisters and community outreach programs.How do I apply to become an Associate?
The application process involves completing a form, attending an orientation, and participating in a formation period to understand the Franciscan way of life before making a commitment.How do Associates live out service and works of neighborly love?
Associates are already engaged in service through their daily lives, professions, family commitments, parish involvement, and community outreach. Rather than adding obligations, the Associate relationship deepens awareness of how everyday actions become expressions of Franciscan love and solidarity.
Interested in Learning More?
We’d love to hear from you. To begin the conversation, please contact:
Sr. Christina Fuller
Sister Director
christina.fuller@fssh.net
Patricia Tomich
Lay Director
patricia.tomich@fssh.net
815.464.3885
In memoriam
“The souls of the just are in the hand of God.” — Wisdom 3:1
We honor the memory of our Associates who have entered the fullness of life.
2026
Dolores (Dolly) Szymanski
2024
Carol De Trana, July 27
Joann Toti, July 13
Alice Meyer, March 2
2023
Deacon Bruce Watermann, January 31
2022
Lillie Farwell, November 25
Judith Speckman, July 21
Florence Matz, April 25
Joan Dalaly, March 25
Patricia Schubert, March 1
Sue Karst, February 1
2021
Jerry Ellis, November 13
2020
Mary Van Bogart, November 27
Valerie Danek, September 2
Dolores Klotz, May 8
2019
Von Dell Smith, April 24
2018
Lorraine Holgin, May 27
2017
Victor Ley, December 29
2016
Josephine Saporito, August 19
2015
Barbara Franzen, July 31
Jim Mueller, July 7
Olivia McQuaid, April 23
2014
Mary Gibbons, September 22
Lyn Carman, June 19
2013
Ursula Ley, September 20
Ellen Keeter, June 18
2011
Virginia McKenzie, April 24
Dorothea Broderick, April 1
2010
Margaret Ley, November 15
Bob Carman, July 3
Lawrence Heiny, April 6
Mary Jill Warner, March 30
Angelo Saporito (in orientation)
2009
Dorothy Murray on August 26
Patricia Drummond, May 5
2008
David Dalaly, June 9
Rafael Yaniz, March 1
2001
Don Broderick, September 7
2000
Evelyn Blasiar, August 28
June Cozzo, May 15