Holy Name Province

Holy Name Province currently numbers 140 women ranging from 56 to 98 years of age. We have approximately 100 commissioned associates.

Our sisters are engaged in various ministries of education, health care, pastoral ministry, and social services in the following areas: Florida, New Jersey, New York (primarily in Buffalo and Western New York), Ohio (primarily in Columbus and southeastern Ohio), West Virginia, and other areas.

Originally incorporated as "The Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart," in 1981 the corporate title was changed to "Sisters of St. Francis of Holy Name Province, Inc." Headquartered at Stella Niagara, New York, we are often commonly referred to as the "Stella Niagara Franciscans." As a corporation, the Sisters of St. Francis of Holy Name Province owns several institutions/properties. These are: Sacred Heart Academy, Buffalo, N.Y., Francis Center in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Stella Niagara in the Town of Lewiston, N.Y., "Stella Maris", our lake house in Angola, N.Y., and several houses serving as residences for local communities.

Approximately 55 of our sisters live at Stella Niagara where we have an elementary school (Stella Niagara Education Park), a retreat and conference center (Center of Renewal), the Health Center for aged and infirm sisters, and residences for some of our retired sisters and for those involved in the ministries at this location. Offices for our provincial administration are also located at Stella Niagara.

Throughout the province, whether working with high school young women at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, young children at Francis Center in Niagara Falls, N.Y., serving as pastoral assistants at a number of diocesan parishes, or working directly with the poor, our sisters continue to bring a Franciscan presence to all those they meet.