The Congregation of the Little Sisters of St. Francis was founded in 1960 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea, OFM Capuchin, who was the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Livingstone and originally from Ireland. We are a Franciscan Diocesan Institute comprising Zambian and two Zimbabwean Sisters, following the Franciscan Rule of the Third Order Regular.
We serve in the Livingstone and Lusaka Archdioceses, specifically in Sichili under Mulobezi District and Sioma District in the Western Province. Our mission is to evangelize and empower communities, focusing particularly on vulnerable women, girls, youth, the elderly, and children living with disabilities. We adopt a holistic Franciscan approach in our programs, ministering to our people with love, respect, and compassion.
We are a faith-based organization registered under the Government of the Republic of Zambia, with the Registrar of Societies in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
—a crowning glory of his life’s work, his pride and joy until his dying day. One evening, after supper, we sat chatting on the veranda of what was once the old friary, now known as the Bishop’s house. I noticed that familiar tell-tale faraway look in his eyes, signaling an abrupt change of direction. I began to recognize these signs, knowing that both he and I were about to embark on a completely different course.
Working with Bishop O’Shea was never dull. Just when we thought things were settling into a familiar routine, he would share one of his divine insights, turning our world upside down and sending us off on a perilous journey into the unknown.
After a few moments of silence, he mused aloud: “How will we ever touch the hearts of the hundreds of women right on our doorstep without our own Congregation of Sisters? Sisters fluent in all the languages spoken, dedicated solely to bringing Christ to these women and guiding as many of them as possible to Him.”
It was in that moment that the Little Sisters of St. Francis began. Their way of life was encapsulated in that one sentence—demanding, yet glorious, to be lived out daily, as he had done for thirty years. I knew nothing would stop him from realizing his dream.
We were embarking on an unknown journey, lacking knowledge of Canon Law regarding the foundation of a religious congregation or religious formation. We even struggled to choose a name for his dream congregation. However, we understood that all we needed to do was pass on to our Sisters a love for souls for Christ. Once they were filled with that love, the rest of their formation would naturally fall into place.
Our way of living the Gospel is rooted in the example set by Bishop O’Shea, who chose to follow the “Poor Humble Crucified Christ.” Like St. Francis, he embraced the values of humility, poverty, contemplation, and zeal for souls, desiring that everyone experience Christ. This spirit is what he wished to impart to his daughters.
In 1959, Bishop O’Shea wrote to the Superior General of the FMSA, Sister Kevina, saying, “Establish a congregation; would it be possible to have a congregation established very near in spirit and name to the LSOSF? We would petition Mother General to provide a European sister for the training of the postulants and novices.” He wished to adopt the name LSOSF for Rhodesia, emphasizing the term “Little” to reflect the humility of Christ Jesus. The Sisters would wear a habit made of coarse white material, with a cord of three knots, a black veil, and sandals—attire that symbolized a life of poverty. When necessary, a cloak might be worn as a sign of servitude.
Following our General Chapter of 2013, which aimed to articulate and affirm our Charism and identity as a congregation, a workshop was organized in 2014, facilitated by Fr. Enrico, a Comboni Priest. During this workshop, we revised our Charism statement, feeling the Spirit’s guidance as it resonated with the seminar held by the Sisters in 1980: “I know Christ, the Poor Crucified One.”
In the same year, another workshop was led by Sister Perpetua Mutonga, a member of the LSSF. We sought to recall Bishop O’Shea’s vision, mission, and core values that transformed ordinary actions into extraordinary deeds. His vision emphasized education and the empowerment of women, creating a fertile ground for Christ to harvest. His holistic approach to mission demonstrated that neither tiredness nor distance, nor the means of transport used, could deter him. The values that defined his mission were rooted in sharing Christ with others. His simplicity, sense of humor, joy, and commitment to carrying Christ wherever he went made the Gospel come alive.
During the Assembly of 1980, held from December 14th to 21st, all professed Sisters and Fr. Noel OFM Cap, our Chaplain and facilitator, reflected on the ideals of the Little Sisters of St. Francis. They affirmed: “We must always live according to the poverty and humility of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rule II).
We are African Franciscan Family, based on faith, hope and united in Christain Love. We are Loyal to one another and try to bear each other burdens. Our day centers around the Eucharit and Liturgy of Hours. As franciscan our way of life is simple and we have great respect for all people. We try to be self supporting. It is The Holy Spirit who has been given to us, who conitues to form us; keeps us faithful to Christ and to each other and leads us to the Father.
He has given us a Mission to continuing the work of Christ to draw all people to Himself. We give witness to the Kingdom present and to come and show that Christ is alive and active in the world today. We do this by our consecrated life of poverty, chastity and obedience, and by serving the Church as African Women Religious in the Franciscan spirit of Poverty, simplicity joy and Humility. We Make St Francis our model in his love for the church and his concern for the poor; Virtues which were outstanding in our founder Bishop O’Shea. Our Contemplative approach to prayer keeps our eyes focused on Christ as centre of our lives and is our nourishment as we strive for holiness.
Like Bishop O’Shea we see the soul of our Apostolate as being union with God. We are ready to give ourselves, in a flexible way; to the needs of the local church have a special concern for those who are poor, either materially or spiritually. Our apostolate is varied but we find common support in our community. In imitation of Christ in His Public Life, we seek to integrate our consecrated life with our apostolate so that no matter our educational qualifications we are apostolic in all that we do.
