Fondresses of the Marian Franciscans Pictured Left to Right: Kristen Leaderstorf, Catherine Chance, Nicolette Langlois, Lindsey Martin, and Alycia Murtha.
We are a Private Association of the Christian faithful with the aim of becoming a Congregation of Women Religious. We live in community in the Diocese of Buffalo. We feel the call to answer God's word spoken to St. Francis, "Rebuild my Church."
In a society that has rejected the existence of Absolute Truth and on every side attacks the dignity of the human person in all stages of life, the institution of marriage, the importance of family, the infrastructure of morality, and the real presence of a merciful God who loves and cares for each person, we have heard the call of God spoken to St. Francis, "Rebuild my Church." In a Church enduring the storm of scandal, economic crisis, declining numbers of both priests and religious, closing of parishes, schools and retreat centers, we have heard the call of God spoken to St. Francis, "Rebuild my Church." In a diverse people yearning for more than mediocrity, more than the business of their daily lives, more than a mere cyber reality, we have heard the call of God spoken to St. Francis, "Rebuild my Church which is falling around you."
We are seeking to follow this call God has placed on our hearts through the foundation of a Religious Congregation dedicated to the Charism of being Agents of the New Evangelization. A contemplative-active order with both active Sisters participating in public ministry and enclosed Sisters dedicated to a life of prayer for the apostolate. Our Charism as Agents of the New Evangelization places special emphasis on ministering to those who have experienced a crisis of faith, and by providing opportunities for devout Catholics to enrich their faith. We seek to meet modern man where he is - in the streets of working class America - by being a witness of habited Religious Sisters in their daily lives, by providing opportunities for spiritual growth, and by bringing them into the life of the Church so that they may come to a full and active participation in her sacramental life and ministries.
As we continue our discernment, we ask that you keep us in your prayers and follow our blog and Facebook page.
About Us:
Alycia Murtha
Alycia was born and raised in Georgia in a strong Catholic family. Growing up in a vibrant Franciscan parish, she became very active in parish life from a young age. Religious life was always talked about in her family although she had never actually seen a religious until her freshman year of college. Alycia attended public school from Kindergarten through high school, learning the importance of evangelization, especially during high school when asked - what felt like a million - questions from her friends and teachers who didn't necessarily have a positive view or understanding of the Catholic Church. During her four years at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Alycia began seriously discerning the call to religious life that she had felt from a young age. Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Theology and Catechetics, Alycia has searched for new ways to incorporate the New Evangelization into all aspects of her daily life. Alycia enjoys running, finding catechetical teaching points in all kinds of music and movies, spending time with her family, working with the teens in LifeTeen, UGA football, and most of all, being Catholic!
Catherine Chance
Catherine comes from a strong Catholic family of eight that has always encouraged her in prayer and solid Christian values. When she was little, the example of the Poor Clares that she visited near Chicago inspired a desire for religious life at a young age. It wasn't until college at Franciscan University of Steubenville, however, that she began to seriously discern her vocation to the religious life. Her family has always been open to religious life, and one of her younger siblings is also discerning a call to a religious vocation. Her family currently lives in Indiana, while Catherine moved to Georgia, where she is working to pay off her student loans. She was home-schooled until sixth grade, after which she attended Catholic school up until she graduated Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and a minor in Theology. She has been involved as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan and Choir member. She has also helped out with washing altar linens and the LifeTeen Core Team, and she is happy to learn on a daily basis what a blessing a vocation to the New Evangelization is. She now works at the Diocesan Seminary. Catherine enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, knitting and crocheting, learning more about her faith, music and singing, and sharing her faith with others in a way that helps them fall more in love with Christ and His Church. Her favorite saints are her patrons - St. Catherine of Siena and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Kristen Leaderstorf
Kristen was born and raised in a loving Catholic family in New York. She is grateful to her parents for always being open to and exposing her to religious life from a young age. She and her older sister attended both public and private school and were finally homeschooled through high school. She attended Franciscan University where she graduated with a degree in Theology and Catechetics. While always feeling a call to religious life, she didn't start seriously discerning active steps until after college. She is very excited by the call of the New Evangelization and to see how the Lord will continue to shape the foundation of this congregation and the plans He has for her! She is now working as the Secretary at her local Cathedral. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, reading and long bike rides. She especially enjoys spending time with her three little nieces and nephew! She has great devotion to Divine Mercy and the Blessed Mother. She has recently been involved as a lector, Confirmation teacher and member of the Evangelization Committee at her Church.
Nicolette Langlois
Lindsey Martin
Lindsey was born and raised in Georgia, not far from Alycia. Although the two grew up in neighboring towns, they did not meet until just a few years ago at St. James the Apostle where they both volunteered for the Life Teen Core Team. Lindsey, her three brothers, and her parents have always been very involved in the Church and are a strong, faith filled, and tight knit family. She attended public school until 4th grade, after which her parents enrolled her and her brothers in a Baptist private school where she remained the rest of her schooling years. She then went on to attend the University of West Georgia. She graduated from there with a degree in Sport Management and an associates in Business Administration. Lindsey has always been involved in sports, from playing little league softball to being the captain of her college ultimate frisbee club team. After her time at West Georgia she began to be more involved with the youth program at her home parish. During that time she met Alycia and Catherine and learned of their plans for this religious community. It was at this time that she began to dive more into Church teaching, learning what she could and taking her faith to a new and deeper level. After a long summer of discernment, Lindsey finally decided to move in with the community and discern her vocation further. She felt God speaking to her heart and calling her to religious life, and she responded "Here I am Lord." She officially joined the community as a cofoundress in April of this year. Lindsey enjoys being outdoors, playing sports, ministering to the people of God, and spending time with her family.
