Our Institute

We are women, religious sisters, committed to living a Gospel way of life in a strong global network of shared vision, shared resources and shared leadership; women who have experienced a call to follow Christ in the path traced out by our Foundress, Helene de Chappotin, and Francis of Assisi who inspired her vision.

Our Vision

We seek:

• to view the world and its realities from a feminine perspective
• to enable women to be aware of their dignity and nurture their self-confidence and self-esteem
• in a divided world, to live as sisters in international communities
• in a consumer society, to witness to simplicity of life
• to deal with the effects of globalization on
  • the poor,
  • the marginalized
  • the environment
• to always share the love of God

Our Options

We strive to live a balance of prayer and action in our Institute’s orientation to universal mission which asks us to be ready to go anywhere at the service of the Gospel.

 You will find Franciscan Missionaries of Mary living and working in some of the poorest places on earth, while others work for justice and peace through local or international organizations that foster grasssroot projects and lobby for change.

Some provide university education for women; others provide education and health care in impoverished villages.

We work in prisons, crisis centres, with refugees and asylum seekers, in spiritual accompaniment and art.

Whatever the need we seek to be present, as was Helene de Chappotin, our foundress, witnessing to truth and love.

Our way of life is consecrated within the Catholic church through life-long commitment in the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Currently Australians living overseas are in Rome, Israel, South Africa, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Canada.