Missionary Expansion and Formation
During her two consecutive terms as Superior General from 1968 to 1980, Mother Ernestine courageously extended the missionary horizons of the Congregation by venturing into the distant mission territories of the North-East and Northern regions of India. This period witnessed a remarkable expansion of the Congregation’s missionary outreach. Many young and enthusiastic members generously responded to the call to serve in far-off and often challenging mission territories across the country. Their willingness to leave familiar surroundings and embrace new cultures and communities reflected their deep missionary spirit and commitment to the Gospel.
Wherever the Ursulines went, they remained faithful to the foundational spirit of the Congregation. Their mission continued to be centred on faith formation, pastoral accompaniment, and a village-oriented apostolate, especially among people living in remote and underserved areas. Inspired by the Franciscan tradition, the Sisters sought to witness to the Gospel through a simple lifestyle marked by Franciscan poverty, humility, fraternity, and simplicity of life. Their presence among the people was not merely one of service but also of accompaniment, sharing in their joys, struggles, and aspirations.
The twelve-year period from 1980 to 1992, under the successive leadership of Mother Reparatha and Mother Severine as Superiors General, was characterized by a growing emphasis on the qualitative development of the Congregation. While missionary expansion continued, greater attention was given to strengthening the foundations of religious life, particularly in the areas of formation, community living, and apostolic effectiveness. The Congregation recognized that sustainable growth required not only expansion into new mission areas but also the deepening of the spiritual and human formation of its members.
During this period, considerable importance was therefore attached to the preparation of competent and well-equipped formators. Members of the Congregation were given opportunities to pursue studies in Religious Sciences, Psychology, and related fields, both in reputed institutions in India and in centres of formation abroad. This investment in the formation of formators helped the Congregation to develop a more systematic and mature approach to the accompaniment of candidates and young Sisters.
The Congregation gradually came to a deeper realization that the strength and vitality of any religious institute depend largely on the quality of its members and the depth of their formation. Sound formation shapes persons who are spiritually grounded, emotionally mature, intellectually prepared, and capable of responding creatively and faithfully to the changing needs of the Church and society. Well-formed members, in turn, contribute to the building of strong communities and to the effective realization of the Congregation’s mission.
Thus, the years from 1968 to 1992 became an important period of both missionary expansion and internal consolidation. While Mother Ernestine’s leadership opened new frontiers of mission in the North and North-East, the succeeding leadership of Mother Reparatha and Mother Severine strengthened the Congregation from within through a renewed emphasis on formation and community life. Together, these developments prepared the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation to enter the years ahead with greater maturity, stability, and missionary dynamism.
Under the efficient and farsighted leadership of Sr Edilburga Monteiro, who served as Superior General from 1992 to 2004, the Congregation made significant progress in its spiritual, formative, and apostolic dimensions. The erection of Provinces and Regions brought about greater decentralization, fostering shared responsibility and opening new avenues for growth, leadership, and effective administration. The apostolate also found new expressions in response to the emerging needs of the Church and society.
During this period, the Formation Programme was strengthened with greater emphasis on the holistic formation of members, enabling them to grow in their spiritual, human, intellectual, and apostolic dimensions.
At the XI General Chapter, Rev. Sr Doreen D Souza was elected Superior General. Her vision and initiatives, with a particular thrust on evangelization and faith formation, encouraged the Sisters to reach out beyond the boundaries of India and venture into the African continent.
The African Mission commenced on 12 June 2004, when the first batch of Ursuline Franciscan Sisters arrived in the Diocese of Same, Tanzania. They later extended their mission to Dar es Salaam, where they are engaged primarily in faith formation and education. African mission has reached to Kenya too. The mission has continued to grow steadily, bearing abundant fruit and opening new possibilities for the Congregation’s evangelizing presence and service in Africa.
The Congregation Today
Today, the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation has grown far beyond its humble beginnings in Mangalore and has extended its presence across India and beyond the borders of the country. Rooted in the spirit of St. Angela Merici and St. Francis of Assisi, the Sisters continue to witness to the Gospel through a life of prayer, simplicity, fraternity, and loving service. Their mission embraces diverse fields such as education, pastoral ministry, faith formation, health care, social development, care of children and the aged, and service to people on the margins of society. The Congregation’s institutions and communities are present not only in different parts of India but also in Tanzania, Kenya, Italy, Germany and USA. In USA the main apostolate is education and pastoral which is in collaboration with the diocese where our Sisters are working.
Over the years, the Congregation has grown into an international family of Sisters drawn from different regions, cultures, and backgrounds. This diversity has become a source of strength, enabling the Sisters to live the universal character of their vocation while remaining faithful to their foundational charism. The missionary presence in Africa, which began in Tanzania in 2004, has continued to develop, while the Congregation’s presence in Europe has also been sustained through its communities and apostolic services.
The Congregation continues to give particular importance to the formation of its members. Formation is understood as a lifelong journey through which each Sister grows in her relationship with Christ, in human and spiritual maturity, in community living, and in readiness for apostolic service. The presence of novitiates and formation programmes in India and Tanzania reflects the Congregation’s continued commitment to nurturing new vocations and preparing young women for consecrated life and mission. Recent celebrations of temporary and perpetual professions, including those held in 2025 and 2026, bear witness to the continuing response of young women to this vocation. Today there are over 1,000 Sisters, in 144 communities and 5 sub-communities in India and abroad.
For effective animation, formation, and administration, the Congregation is organized into 5 Provinces, 2 Regions, and a Central Delegation. These structures facilitate shared responsibility, leadership development, community life, formation, and the coordination of apostolic activities. The Provinces and Regions continue to animate their respective members and ministries while remaining united under the Congregational leadership and the common charism and mission of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation.
The apostolic presence of the Sisters continues to respond to the changing needs of the Church and society. Alongside established ministries in education, health care, pastoral work, and social service, the Congregation continues to explore new ways of being present among people, especially those who are vulnerable, marginalized, or in need of accompaniment. The recent activities of the Congregation, including new initiatives in formation, community development, lay collaboration, and missionary outreach, demonstrate that its mission continues to evolve with the times while remaining faithful to its original spirit.
The Ursuline Franciscan Lay Association (UFLA) has also become an important expression of collaboration in mission. Lay women and men share in the Congregation’s vision and assist the Sisters in extending the values of the Gospel through their own lives and services. This growing collaboration strengthens the Congregation’s outreach and enables its charism to reach a wider circle of people. The recent UFLA gathering in Mangalore in September 2026 reflects the continuing vitality of this growing mission. Mysore, Hubli, North East, North Provinces and African Region are on the verge of celebrating this event of coming together of all UFLA members. Their service adds more strength and vigour to UF Sisters.
Ursuline Franciscan Blooms (UFB)
In 2016, another significant initiative was added to the mission of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation with the establishment of the Ursuline Franciscan Blooms (UFB). The initiative was envisioned to nurture and strengthen the Catholic faith among the students of UFES, while also awakening in them an openness to the vocation of consecrated and priestly life. Through faith-based activities, guidance, and opportunities for spiritual growth, UFB seeks to help young people deepen their relationship with Christ and discover their personal vocation in the Church.
The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Ursuline Franciscan Blooms. This decennial celebration is a moment of gratitude for the journey undertaken, the lives touched, and the young people encouraged to grow in faith and discern their vocation. Plans are underway to commemorate this significant milestone Province/Region-wise, with appropriate programmes and celebrations. The occasion will provide an opportunity to acknowledge God’s blessings, celebrate the growth of UFB, and renew the Congregation’s commitment to accompanying young people in their journey of faith and vocation discernment.
The present journey of the Congregation is therefore one of continuity and renewal, faithful to its rich heritage while responding courageously to the signs of the times. From a small beginning in Mangalore in 1887, the Congregation has grown into a wider missionary family serving in different cultures and countries. Its strength lies not merely in numbers or institutions but in the dedication of its members to live the Gospel in the spirit of Franciscan simplicity and to make Christ’s love visible through compassionate service.
As the Congregation looks to the future, it entrusts its journey to Divine Providence, seeking to deepen its consecrated life, strengthen the formation of its members, foster communion and collaboration, and reach out to new frontiers of mission. The continuing commitment of the Sisters, the emergence of new vocations, the growth of missionary outreach, and the participation of lay collaborators offer reasons for hope as the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation carries forward its mission “For the Love of God” into the years ahead.
