The Felician family of ministries is growing! We are excited to announce that as of January 1, 2021, the Felician Sisters of North America officially accepted sponsorship of St. Anne’s Family Services, a well-respected non-profit in Los Angeles, CA, that has been serving women, children, and families in need since 1908.
More than 100 years ago, the Diocese of Los Angeles and the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart had the foresight to found a ministry providing care to pregnant young women with nowhere to turn. After decades of service to the community, they have grown into a social services hub that provides high-quality supportive housing programs, early childhood education, mental health and family-based services to 2,200 families annually across Los Angeles County. St. Anne’s continues to remain unique in Los Angeles by offering comprehensive services to children and families of all faiths.
“We served for 80 years as sponsor for St. Anne’s. It’s like our baby grew up. Today, St. Anne’s is successful, stable and just full of life, Now is the time for us to transfer sponsorship to ensure the future of this important urban ministry. It is what is the best for St. Anne’s. And, while sponsorship is changing, our love for St. Anne’s will never diminish but only will continue to grow.”
Sr. Joyce Shanabarger, General Community Leader of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart
The St. Anne’s sponsorship transfer follows a multi-year search for a successor by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, now based in Illinois, which served as St. Anne’s sponsor for more than eight decades. With the Felician Sisters, the Franciscan Sisters found a congregation that shares its values and mission to serve the most vulnerable of society.
St. Anne’s and the Felician Sisters of North America were both born out of a profound desire to minister to society’s most vulnerable people. Sister Mary Christopher Moore, Provincial Minister of the Felician Sisters of North America, said: “Our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, began her ministry by providing compassionate care to women and children in need, so it is a privilege for us now to welcome St. Anne’s, an organization with a mission and values so aligned to our own, into the Felician family. We feel blessed that the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart entrusted us with the sponsorship of their beloved ministry as it continues and expands its impact on the Los Angeles County community.”
Lorna Little, President and CEO of St. Anne’s, said: “We believe being part of the Felician Sisters community of ministries helps strengthen our commitment to our families and community members who come to us from diverse racial, ethnic and faith backgrounds. We are thrilled to have had such empowering and forward-thinking leadership with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart for more than 80 years, and we look forward to the next phase of our journey with the Felicians.”
With the addition of St. Anne’s Family Services, the Felician Sisters today support more than 40 ministries throughout North America.
St. Anne’s Family Services achieves its mission by working together to provide high-quality supportive housing programs, early childhood education, mental health and family-based services to 2,200 families annually across Los Angeles County. St. Anne’s Family Services has grown into a premiere social service agency – from its humble beginnings more than 100 years ago as a home for pregnant young women with nowhere to turn. Today, it rises to the challenge of meeting the ever-changing needs of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable populations by offering an array of comprehensive services that promote the well-being, safety, resilience and ongoing achievement of the children and families it serves. For more information visit their website.
