Convents

ST. JOSEPH’S CONVENT, LITTLEHAMPTON

St Joseph’s Convent began as a Home for boys and girls in August 1898. Please see our history page for further details regarding events and changing times in our development which led us to create St Joseph’s Nursing Home. The Generalate was officially established in St Joseph’s and is today the Mother House of our Congregation.

St. Joseph’s Convent,
East Street,
LITTLEHAMPTON
BN17 6AU
Tel: 01903 711326
Registered charity number: 232931

CANTERBURY

On 27th October, 2021, the FMSL closed Monte Bre Convent and withdrew from Canterbury, as decided at the General Chapter in May 2017.  The Sisters keep all our friends in the area in our hearts and prayers and maintain many happy memories of ministry in Canterbury since 1973.


HOLLINGTON

On 5th May 2022, the FMSL withdrew from the former novitiate house in the Parish of the Good Shepherd, Hollington.  We thank the clergy and parishioners for their welcome and support during our residency in the Parish.  We retain our links with the Poor Clare Community in Hollington and keep all our friends in the Parish in our prayers.


ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS, KNOCK, IRELAND

At our General Chapter 1990 (the year of our Centenary celebrations) it was decided that the Sisters would go on Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine to say “Thank you for God’s goodness to us as a Congregation”.

In 1978 Knock had celebrated the hundred years since Our Lady appeared there in 1878. While on Pilgrimage some Sisters spotted a house for sale about a mile from the Shrine on the Airport/ Sligo Road. Sterling was very strong against the punt so it was a good time to buy. Negotiations took place. With the ecclesiastical side and business side completed, the house was opened on the 11 October 1991. The first Mass was celebrated by our then Bishop Cormac Murphy O’Connor (now Cardinal). Joseph Cassidy of Tuam offered a Thanksgiving Mass there on the 11 February. The house became known as St Mary of the Angels.

St Mary of the Angels became a house of hospitality for our own Sisters and for Pilgrims to the Shrine. The Sisters are also involved in the life of the Knock Parish and give great support to the local Cenacolo Community nearby. This community in turn support the Sisters and maintain the Convent garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Mary of the Angels,

Eden,
Knock
Co Mayo
Ireland
F12YC83
Tel: 00 353 9493 88302

 

We were overjoyed that Pope FRANCIS VISITED  Our National Knock Marian Shrine in 2017 and in 2021 elevated our blessed place of pilgrimage to ” KNOCK INTERNATIONAL MARIAN AND EUCHARISTIC SHRINE” 

An illustration showing the Basilica and  MOSAIC OF THE APPARITION is key to Our Life here.

Our Apostolate is Marian, INCLUSIVE, dynamic; mirroring our Way Of Life. 

The Scripture Group began as a simple discussion group in St John’s Rest and Care in the  Shrine Grounds; reflecting on Sunday Mass Readings. 

When Covid struck, we re-located, to our Convent (socially distanced). 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ENABLED: sharing  via Whatsapp and Google to over 100 people each week. This is often shared again with  family and friends world-wide. It is AWESOME that GOD’s WORD is circulating in CYBER- SPACE! 

We feel the blessing of Our Holy Father Francis is always present with the HOLY SPIRIT as we continue in our SERVICE OF GOD in a troubled world.!!  

We have had 2 days of Reflection; OUR FIRST WAS 25th SEPTEMBER 2021 where we had 26 people (keeping within Covid Rules) reflecting on the Eucharist in our LIVES. Our Carmelite Sisters made us a VERY LARGE HOST for the occasion and after it  was consecrated by Fr Tom Taaffe at Mass; later providing a prayerful focus during Exposition. He has been pivotal in his support and guidance throughout. 

Our 2nd Day on 20th November 2021 was devoted to “WHY DO WE NEED TO PRAY FOR PRIESTS?” AGAIN THIS WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED; revealing A GREAT THIRST FOR EVANGELISATION. 


ST. ANNE’S BURGESS HILL

St Anne’s Convent was given to the Sisters, as a gift, from the Stonor family in 1956. The Stonor family wanted the house to be used as a rest home for elderly ladies. Today the convent is a Residential Care Home for the elderly and disabled. The Sisters employ a Care Manager and Staff, to help them run and maintain the Care Home.

St Anne’s Franciscan Convent
92 Mill Road
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 8EL
The Convent Tel: 01444 462 929

SAINT FRANCIS CONVENT, MYSORE, INDIA

Our latest Convent was opened in India in 2005. We had received numerous enquiries from overseas and following prayer and discernment, decided to open a mission in India. Sister Anne Joseph left for India in September 2005 with the task of finding a house suitable for the sisters’ needs. Sisters Anastasia and Barbara visited Sister Anne Joseph in November 2005 for the final negotiations. They were all present for the blessing of the new convent, St Francis, on 24 November 2005, the anniversary of the Littlehampton foundation. We began in India with a house of formation. Now three of our Indian Sisters are finally professed and some of the community members are engaged in teaching. The presence of our Community has sent a ray of hope to all in the locality and above all to the poor.

St Francis Convent FMSL
141 Tank Road
4th Cross (R)
N.R. Mohalla
MYSORE 570 007
Karnataka State
South India
Tel: 00918212450029

ST ANTHONY’S CONVENT, BELWADI, INDIA

The first stage of building on the FMSL land in Belwadi, about 10km from Mysore, was completed in January 2019. It is needed to accommodate and train new vocations to our growing community. Please keep both Communities in prayer as we develop the FMSL presence of prayer and service in India.