Brief History Of Our Communities

St. Michael's Convent, Mirpurkhas
In 1953 the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus, as soon as they settled down in their newly established community in Mirpurkhas, they studied their new environment and looked up for ways to help the people of that area. Their vision, which was in resonance with that of their Foundress Mother Margherita De Brincat was to reach out and dedicate themselves to the needy and the poor Aided by the expertise of Mr. Drago Herman and the financial help of their benefactors, they opened St Michael School to offer a holistic education to the children coming from that area. Throughout the years the school continued to offer a broad education to the children and achieved very high standards.

Presently the community is made-up of six sisters who besides their prayer life, go out to teach in the Catholic colony where the majority of the children are poor. Besides, they run a girls' hostel and carry out pastoral animation, especially with the youth

St. Teresa's Convent, Mirpurkhas
On 2nd June 2004 group of Franciscan sisters headed to St Teresa's Hospital Mirpurkhas. Their aim was to establish a community and take over the administration and management of St. Teresa's Hospital Mirpurkhas this hospital was handed over to the congregation by the Medical Missionaries Sisters. At present the community is composed of six sisters. All of them are actively involved in the hospital and the adjoining nursing school. At present there are nearly sixty students in different stages of the midwifery training Course. The students who usually come from far away places have the opportunity to live in the hospital hostel and also continue to foster their Christian education. Every opportunity is taken to help these girls build a good moral character and to participate actively in Church activities.
While they give their valuable service at the hospital the sisters courageously and lovingly, continue to minister to Jesus in the sick and dying.




Alverna Convent, Sanghar
This convent was opened in 1962 to cater for the needs of the large Christian community in Padri-Jo-Goth Sanghar. The work of the sisters was providential in promoting vocations for the priesthood and sisterhood. The first FCJ. Vocations came from this village. The presence of FCJ sisters in the village had been a great pastoral blessing. At present the community of four sisters run a dispensary which caters for the needs not only of the local residents but also of the Christians and non - Christians living in nearby villages. Besides this they run a small school.




St Clare Convent Matli
May 20, 1966 the Franciscan sisters opened another convent in Matli Presently this community is made up of four Sisters and they minister principaly to the Parkari and Kohli tribe, where the majority of the people are living in extreme poverty, deprived even of their basic needs.
Our sisters run an elementary school and a girls' hostel. They also manage a well-equipped dispensary and a Tuberculosis Centre. Besides all this apostolate, the Sisters carry out Pastoral animation and provide pastoral help to the St Joseph Parish and the nearby villages while working very close with the Catholic laity.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hyderabad
In 1973 the Congregation accepted to run the Lady Graham Maternity Hospital which belonged to the Hyderabad Diocese. This hospital was demolished in 2003 and was rebuilding to offer better services to the many women who make use of its facilities. . Our sisters helped by a gynaecologist gives continual 24-hours service, they visit other hospitals in the city to meet the Catholic nurses who work in a completely Muslim environment. In this way the sisters are always available to help other nurses and care workers to keep their Christian faith intact. Presently the community is made up of four sisters. Moreover they help as much as they can in the Parish animation and youth ministry.



Bethany Convent, Malir
In 1977, Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro invited the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' to work in the Archdiocese of Karachi. The sisters accepted and they started their pastoral work in the Landhi Parish. The community which was formed took as their vision to alleviate, teach and educate all those who needed a transformation in their lives.

Today the community is actively involved in Parish activities, such as teaching catechism and running Legion of Mary groups. This mission with the help of the Almighty lived up to its mission enhancing the lives of so many and bringing a positive transformation on the whole community.

Mother Margherita Convent, Chichawatni
Up to 1979 the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' was restricted only to the Sindh Province. Afterwards came an invitation from Bishop Andreotti O.P. who offered a project in his diocese of Punjub north of Pakistan. The answer was positive and in November 1979 the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' established their first community in the Sindh province.

Currently the community is formed of our four sisters. Besides a life of prayer they dedicated themselves to the up-keep of an Urdu and English school and running the hostel for deprived and orphaned children. Besides this sisters teach catechism in the Parish, and visit the remote areas to be with the people in all their needs.

Holy Rosary Convent, Faisalabad
Seeing the positive change in the people who came in contact with the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' Bishop Andreotti offered another convent to the sisters. The Regional Superior studied the possibilities for this mission and in 1984 the Holy Rosary Convent opened its doors to welcome the first five sisters who were sent to work among the Christian community in Faisalabad. From then onward our sisters began working according to their charism with the local people. The four sisters forming this community are running a secondary school, they do pastoral care, such as Sunday school, teaching catechism, and visiting the families.

Nazareth Convent, Karachi
It was high time for the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' to look for a place to house its Regional Community. In 1986 the Regional Superior and her council decided to have their seat in Gulshan-e Iqbal Karachi. By time an Initial Formation Community was established to cater for the needs of the postulants and novices. The vicinity to the seminary and the other religious formation houses offered a great benefit for the Sisters.

Mother Esther Attard is the Provincial Superior and is aided by a community of six sisters. The adjoining house is used as the formation house. The formation community is autonomous; however the novices and postulants share in the community prayer life. . The main apostolate of this house is to offer warm hospitality to those who visits, be it for reasons of retreats, seminars, health, vacation, get-together, Provincial Councils or otherwise. With the grace of God we are journeying as a Franciscan Missionary community.

Formation House
In 1989 the 'Formation House' was opened. In the past all those who desire to join Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' were send to Malta for their initial formation. But later on the Congregation felt the need to open a formation house in Karachi. The aim of opening the formation house in Pakistan was that the candidates could be formed in their own culture and homeland. Since that time God has blessed us with many good vocations. At present the formation community is made-up of nine postulants and five novices.

St Francis Convent, Lahore
Bishop Armando of Lahore had been dreaming and struggling to have the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' in Gulberg in the center of Lahore. At long last in 1999 his dream came true when five sisters started their mission among the people of St. Mary's Parish.

Presently the community is made up of four Sisters. In this community the main concern of the Sisters is education. They are teaching at St. Mary's and St. Laurence's schools. The adjoining house is use as a nursery "Little Flowers of St. Francis." They also pay house visits to school children's parents.






Hearts of Jesus and Mary Convent, Quezon Philippines
Love for Christ and His Church knows no boundaries….and the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' always tried to put into practice their foundress motto 'Love God and strive to make Him known and loved.' For this reason in January 2003 four sisters boarded an airline bound for Manila Philippines and in no time they settled in Quezon City. Their mission was to offer better facilities for the formation of the junior sisters and vocation animation. With the opening of this convent, another golden page was written in the records of St Francis Province Pakistan.

St. Joseph's Convent, Philippines
By the grace of God our mission in Philippines is flourishing. Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus' were invited by his Excellency Socrates B. Villegas to carry out the work of education in Bataan. The new house was inaugurated on June 22, 2006 in the presence of Provincial Superior Rev. Sr. Maria Esther Attard.

The main concern of this community is education and pastoral activity. Currently the community is made of three sisters. They are running Mother Margherita Catholic's school. The school welcomes everyone without regard to sex, religion or ethnic background. Besides this Sisters are actively involved in Parish activities such as youth ministries.