Our History

Our Franciscan story as a congregation has been very much a journey of faith, from our conception as a group of lay Franciscan women caring for the poor and orphaned in the London of the 1890's to our birth as Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood in 1947.

We do not claim any one individual as our founder but rather see that many women of great faith and compassion have shaped and fashioned our story. Women like Martha Manning, Colette Tierney and Francis Spring.

When Francis of Assisi discovered Christ over 800 years ago, it was the beginning of one of the greatest love stories of all time. The vision of Francis continues in the lives of our Sisters today. Our Franciscan Charism challenges us to authentic Gospel living in our response to the needs of today .

Timeline of Significant FMDM Events