Congregational Archives
The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
The Heritage Room
Located at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, the Heritage Room lets you get up close and personal with the history of the Congregation. Click a picture for an enlarged view and more information!
This beautiful stained glass door served as the main entrance to the Original Motherhouse.
This display includes enlargements of photographs of the Old Motherhouse, which served the sisters from 1859 until it was replaced by the New Motherhouse in 1959.
This display, located in the counter across from the photo wall, showcases photos of sisters working in the kitchen and refectory of the Old Motherhouse.
This display, located in the counter across from the photo wall, showcases photos of sisters working in the kitchen and refectory of the Old Motherhouse.
This Host Press was used to make the altar bread in both the Old Motherhouse and the Cloister/Ritiro.
On the top shelf of this cabinet, we see a photo of a sister preparing Holy Communion, as well as a cup used for Communion in the Old Motherhouse. On the bottom shelf, we see the Old Motherhouse Bell, which was used to wake the young sisters early in the morning. Next to the bell is a photograph of a novice making her bed.
In this display, we see four pictures of sisters doing the laundry in the Old Motherhouse and the Laundry building. Behind the photos is a washboard and a bar of soap.
These decorative ceramic Fire Pots were used for the first time during Summerfest 1998. They were used again during Chapter 2016, where they held the flames invoked by the Chapter Theme: "Be the Fire!"
This compact secretary desk was used by Reverend Mother Teresa O'Neil, OSF, the foundress and first elected superior of the Congregation.