The beautiful image found on our homepage was originally a banner created by artist Sister Ann Therese Kelly, cssf, Buffalo. Below is the story of how it came to be.

Each Felician province submitted a photograph or drawing so that Sister Ann Therese could formulate an image for the General Chapter of 2000, reflecting the joint vision of all the provinces into one iconographic nature. As expected, there were common elements within all of the images that were sent - the heart, fire, wheat or bread, the world, the Franciscan tao or Franciscan symbols. There were also a number of unique concepts, such as the weaving, which helped to visualize "oneness."

The center of the banner - the focal point - is the world with a heart superimposed over it. Our congregational symbol is the heart reflective of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It also represents our spreading of the love of Jesus into the world through our apostolic mission.

The tao - the distinct Franciscan cross - symbolizes the love of Jesus in the world and Francis' desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In the center of the tao is a line of gold, the medieval concept of transformation that represents the earth becoming a heaven and we becoming something greater than ourselves.

Encompassing the world is the wheat, symbolizing the Eucharist. Three stalks symbolize the Trinity and community. Emerging from the world is the fire which is the Holy Spirit. The three flames depict the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. Woven into the wheat and also emerging from the world are 12 chords representing the 12 provinces - eight in North America, one in Brazil and three in Poland. How appropriate the number twelve is as in the Apostles - representing discipleship.

This rainbow of 12 chords - the rainbow of God's covenant of love for the world - is woven within the wheat of the Eucharist.

Source: Sister Ann Therese Kelly, cssf, Buffalo.