Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

What Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity does

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is a Catholic religious congregation founded on November 9, 1869, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, by five young women inspired by the Gospel way of life of St. Francis of Assisi. Headquartered at Holy Family Convent Motherhouse at 2409 South Alverno Road, the congregation operates as a nonprofit religious institute under Vatican governance, having received definitive pontifical status from Pope John XXIII on January 22, 1962. The congregation delivers its mission through sponsored ministries in Catholic education (K-12 schools, college teaching at St. Norbert), healthcare (Froedtert Holy Family Memorial, Genesis Healthcare System, St. Paul Elder Services, Franciscan Care Services), parish and diocesan work (across the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and seven dioceses), campus ministry (Michigan Tech), Indian reservation ministry (St. Peter, San Xavier), and the Vatican's General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. Formation of new members is conducted through structured programs (Postulancy, Novitiate, Temporary Profession) culminating in lifetime vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

The congregation operates a multi-channel vocation outreach program targeting Catholic women ages 18-40, including the registered "Calledtobe" trademark brand, a website at fscc-calledtobe.org, YouTube and Instagram presence, weekly Relevant Radio appearances, the Franciscan Moment Podcast, weekly Gospel Reflections, virtual Zoom discernment series, and in-person retreats at the Motherhouse. No commercial revenue is generated; services to dioceses, parishes, schools, and healthcare systems are provided by vowed religious sisters as part of their consecrated vocation rather than via paid contracts. The entity is supported institutionally through its wholly owned subsidiary Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries, Inc. (formerly HealthCare Ministry, Inc.), which manages the operational healthcare and ministry entities. Geographic footprint spans Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Ohio, Nebraska, and Vatican City, with historical missionary presence in Hawaii and Peru.

The business model is non-commercial by design: the congregation does not charge for vocation discernment, formation, or ministry services, and financial details are not publicly disclosed. Decision-making is led by a Community Director (currently Sister Marlita Henseler) elected for a six-year term by the General Chapter, supported by four councilors. All assets, revenue, and operational activities flow through Catholic Church canonical structures rather than commercial channels, making traditional PE/VC-style revenue, ARR, and growth metrics inapplicable to this entity.

Name

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

Legal name

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity

Website

https://fscc-calledtobe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1869 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, delivering Catholic education, healthcare, parish, and campus ministry across eight U.S. dioceses and Vatican City while running structured formation and vocation discernment programs for Catholic women.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Vocational Formation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Catholic religious congregation
• Vocation discernment services
• Religious formation programs
• Catholic education ministries
• Catholic healthcare ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Manitowoc

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices26 records

Markets served

Core offering

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is a Catholic pontifical religious congregation that offers vocation discernment and structured religious formation programs (Postulancy, Novitiate, Temporary Profession) for women considering consecrated life. The congregation also delivers sponsored ministries in Catholic education, healthcare, parish services, and community outreach across multiple U.S. dioceses and at the Vatican, supplemented by Catholic spiritual resources such as podcasts, gospel reflections, and discernment retreats.

Product overview

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity is a Catholic religious congregation offering a comprehensive vocational discernment and formation program for women considering consecrated life. The organization provides structured formation stages (Postulancy, Novitiate, Temporary Profession) alongside ministry services in Catholic Education, Healthcare, Parishes, and Community Outreach across multiple U.S. dioceses. The organization also offers Catholic resources including podcasts, publications, videos, and discernment retreats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vocation Discernment Services

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Order of Friars Minor ConventualcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1900In 1900, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity became affiliated with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. The friars acted as spiritual fathers for the community. This bond was later changed, enabling the Sisters to participate in all spiritual benefits accorded to the First and Second Orders, freeing them to self-govern.
• Cistercian NunsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters partner with Cistercian Nuns for Discernment of Spirits Retreats designed for young Catholic women.
• Poor ClaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters partner with Poor Clares for Discernment of Spirits Retreats designed for young Catholic women.
• Carmelite SistersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters partner with Carmelite Sisters for Discernment of Spirits Retreats designed for young Catholic women.
• Froedtert Holy Family MemorialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system sponsored by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Sisters serve as board members and volunteers of hospitality.
• Genesis Healthcare SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are involved as mission chaplain and volunteers providing care in a six-county region of southeastern Ohio.
• Franciscan Care Services Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored ministry continuing to add services and upgrade facilities. One Sister serves as Director of Mission, other Sisters present in varied ways.
• St. Paul Elder ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored by Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Sisters serve as director of mission, spiritual care, and sponsored presence.
• Holy Family College / Silver Lake College of the Holy FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1885, the State of Wisconsin granted a charter to the Congregation to operate an academy and normal school for teacher education - forerunner of Holy Family College. Sisters teach at the college.
• St. Peter Indian MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters involved in diversity of roles - Elementary and High School principals, teachers, librarian, pastoral outreach on Gila River Indian Reservation.
• San Xavier MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisters serve Tohono O'odham community - one as sacristan, another in pastoral work, religious education and sacramental ministry.
• Pope Paul VI InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sister serves directing the Center for NaProEthics at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha.
• Our Lady of Good Help ShrineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Shrine of Our Lady of Champion - only approved apparition site in the United States. Sisters help at the shrine.
• General Secretariat for the Synod of BishopscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister Marie Kolbe Zamora serves at the dicastery of the General Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, Italy.
• Holy Family Conservatory of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisters involved in giving private and group music lessons to children, youth, and adults. Recitals, concerts, choirs part of their ministry.
• FOCUS MissionariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sisters assist at St. Albert Campus Ministry at Michigan Tech with FOCUS Missionaries.
• Magis Catholic Teacher CorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisters at Cristo Rey San Miguel High School mentor Magis Catholic Teacher Corps candidates.
• St. Norbert CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranciscan Sister serves as adjunct Faculty member at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin.
• Catholic Diocese of Green BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in the newly formed Green Bay Diocese in 1869. Sisters serve in Catholic schools and parishes throughout the diocese.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• National Religious Vocation Conference: Industry association for vocation ministers and religious institutes in the U.S. Comparable as the peer network through which FSCC runs joint retreats with Cistercians, Poor Clares, and Carmelites.
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: Governing body that coordinates diocesan structure in which FSCC operates. Relevant as the institutional ecosystem and counterparty for all of FSCC's diocese-level ministry relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Sisters of Mercy: One of the largest U.S. Catholic women's congregations, operating extensive healthcare and education systems (Trinity Health, various colleges). Comparable structure as a pontifical-status congregation with sponsored ministries.
• Sisters of St. Joseph: Large Catholic women's congregation with ministries in education, healthcare, and social services across multiple U.S. regions. Directly comparable ministry portfolio and governance structure.

Direct peers

• Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration: Franciscan women's congregation in Wisconsin with active vocation outreach and ministry in healthcare and education. Most directly comparable as a same-tradition (Franciscan) congregation in overlapping geography.
• Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ: Catholic women's religious congregation with historic presence in Catholic education and healthcare sponsorship. Comparable history of founded-mid-1800s and contemporary sponsored ministry model.
• Sisters of the Holy Cross: Catholic women's congregation with ministries in education, healthcare, and pastoral service across multiple U.S. dioceses. Comparable multi-state footprint and faith-based healthcare sponsorship.
• Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Catholic women's congregation with ministries in education, healthcare, and social services, including sponsored healthcare systems. Comparable in size, ministry mix, and Midwestern U.S. footprint.
• Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross: Another U.S. Franciscan women's religious congregation engaged in education, healthcare, and parish ministry. Highly comparable as a fellow Franciscan congregation with sponsored ministries and vocation discernment programs.
• School Sisters of Notre Dame: Catholic women's religious congregation founded in Germany with strong U.S. footprint in Catholic education and parish ministry. Directly comparable mission, formation structure, and ministry mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/calledtobeFranciscan
• Facebookfacebook.com/franciscansistersofchristiancharity
• Instagraminstagram.com/franciscansisters/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franciscan-sisters-of-christian-charity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity