Who are the FMSA
The Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA) is a Roman Catholic international missionary congregation founded by Teresa Kearney (Mother Kevin) in 1952 in Dundalk, Ireland.
The origins of the congregation can be traced back to the early 20th century:
- Initial Mission in Uganda: In 1902, Teresa Kearney, then a Mill Hill Sister, was part of a group of six sisters sent to Uganda by Bishop Henry Hanlon to establish health care and education ministries for women and children.
- Founding of a Local Congregation: Recognizing the need for local African involvement, Mother Kevin founded the Little Sisters of St. Francis, a community of African nuns for teaching and nursing, in Nsambya, Uganda, in 1923. The motherhouse for this African congregation is in Nkokonjeru, Uganda.
- Establishment of FMSA: As the work in Africa grew, a need for an exclusively missionary novitiate in Europe became apparent. In 1935, Mother Kevin opened a novitiate at Mount Oliver, near Dundalk, Ireland. This was the foundation for the separate missionary order, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA), which was officially established in 1952 with the specific purpose of focusing on the African missions.
Today, the FMSA sisters continue their work in various ministries, including healthcare, education, and social services, across Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Ireland, Scotland, and the USA. The Generalate (head office) is located in Dublin, Ireland.
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Our Evolving Mission Statement
As Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, founded and inspired by Mother Kevin, our Mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus.
We strive to do this by the joyful and generous, prophetic witness of our vowed lives, which challenge today’s negative influences, replacing them with meaning, simplicity, joy, and hope. Sustained by a reflective, prayerful lifestyle in an intercultural community, we commit ourselves to respectful service of others in ministries that empower, transform, and heal.
We journey with others as ‘instruments of peace’, promoting friendship with all Creation, leading to the Fullness of life that Jesus promised.
Our Services
(FMSA) provide essential services in communities across Africa, focusing on health, education, and social development, particularly for the poor and vulnerable, including empowering women and girls, ensuring food security, promoting clean water/sanitation, and supporting sustainable energy, all rooted in Franciscan spirituality. Their work involves direct care, building local capacity, and providing vocational training, working in countries like Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Sudan.
Key Service Areas:
- Health Care: Community health programs, hospital care (like maternity services), mental health support, and general nursing.
- Education: Providing quality, inclusive education, supporting schools, and offering vocational training for youth.
- Social Development: Empowering marginalized girls and women, supporting young mothers, and working with prisoners.
- Food Security & Environment: Promoting sustainable agriculture, clean water access, and affordable, clean energy solutions (solar, biogas).
- How They Work:
- Community-Based: They partner with local communities to build capacity and address specific needs.
- Empowerment: They focus on transforming lives by providing opportunities and challenging negative systems.
- Examples in Uganda:
- In Nsambya and Mbikko, they provide maternity, general nursing, education, and work with young mothers and prisons.
