Sisters of St. Francis mark transition of some ministries to other entities

By Veronica Ambuul

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration at Mount St. Francis ritually marked the transition of some of their ministries to other organizations who will sustain them into the future.

The event took place Nov. 29 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs. During the ritual, led by Franciscan Sister Marietta Spenner, Mount St. Francis Nursing Center and the management of the Mount St. Francis grounds were entrusted to representatives of CommonSpirit Health, which operates three hospitals in Colorado Springs. 
Franciscan Retreat Center, which has hosted nearly half a million guests since its founding in 1988, was entrusted to the Diocese of Colorado Springs, represented by Deacon Doug Flinn, Chancellor.

The sisters will continue to manage Mount St. Francis Columbarium and the sale of niches, said Franciscan Sister Nadine Heimann, and St. Francis of Assisi Parish will continue to operate on the Mount St. Francis grounds due to lease agreement with CommonSpirit Health. 

During the Nov. 29 event, the sisters also paid tribute to Franciscan Community Counseling, which was founded in 1986 and served nearly 12,000 clients until it ceased operations in October of this year. 

The Sisters of St. Francis will continue to live and volunteer at Mount St. Francis and will eventually be buried in the sisters’ cemetery, Sister Nadine said.