Roman Catholicism in The Faroe Islands - The Franciscan Sisters

The Franciscan Sisters

In 1931 two young priests, E. G. Boekenogen and Thomas King, undertook the task of re-establishing a Catholic presence on the Faroes. In a house leased to the Franciscan sisters who came to the Faroes in 1931, a small church was consecrated on May 23 that same year. Among the first to visit this church were some old people who had in their youth attended Father Bauer's church.

The congregation soon outgrew the small church in Bringsnagøta, and together with the new school of St Francis, which the sisters had built, a new Church of Mary was consecrated on June 1, 1933.

The first sisters arrived on the Faroe Islands in April 1931, in response to an appeal made by Cardinal Van Rossum to help the Faroese people and to re-establish the presence of the Catholic Church on the islands. Over the years, they built up a school, a crèche, and a kindergarten, and served the needs of the small Catholic community which gradually formed. Today, there are approximately 130 Catholics of 23 nationalities in the Faroes.

The Franciscan sisters of the Faroe Islands were known for their good works and tolerance. They organized an annual bazaar, using the proceeds to fund their school. They also worked to alleviate the needs of the hungry of the world. Some students of the school were taken in as foster children. Faroese teachers taught in Faroese, even though the sisters themselves were foreigners from across Europe. They learned the Faroese language and spoke with an accent, which was called the "Nun Accent." It never disappeared. They also taught their students about the Bible, prayer and the basics of Christianity, although they were unable to teach the Catholic faith. Their lifestyle of tolerance served as a model for many Faroese people.

St Francis school was always a step ahead of the rest of the school system. In benchmark tests their students were always among the best.

In 1985 St Francis School came under the care of Tórshavn Town Council because the Franciscan sisters were too old to run it any more. Today they have 350 students and 30 teachers. The typical red school building of 1934, designed by the Faroese architect H. C. W. Tórgarð, is remembered by generations of Tórshavners who were instructed there. In 1987 a new school building was dedicated.

The present Franciscan community is the only community of religious sisters on the islands. At the moment, it is made up of six sisters of four nationalities: Flemish, Maltese, Irish and Korean. The primary mission of the sisters is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ; to support the small Catholic community on the islands; and to represent the Catholic Church on the way towards Christian unity. Two of the sisters continue to work in the kindergarten established by the sisters. The sisters are also engaged in a variety of other apostolates: education; faith formation; prayer groups; inter-church activities; visiting the sick and the elderly; welcoming various groups; service of the poor.