Who We Are  A group of Franciscan Sisters living a contemplative lifestyle, desiring to share our space with others

Our Mission   As a community of Allegany Franciscan women who have heard and responded to a call to live the contemplative life, we desire to abide in God's loving, healing presence. With grateful hearts, we wish to allow this gift of God to flow out through our prayer, our welcoming others "to come apart for awhile" and our openness to however the Spirit may call us to carry our gift outward to God's people.

What We Offer  A quiet place apart, a simple lifestyle, a prayerful, reflective setting, a space to listen to the voice of God. We offer guided and directed retreats, spiritual direction and holistic modalities, such as Reiki. For more information, read about our ministries. We welcome your prayer intentions and requests. Please email us at allegritiro@yahoo.com.

About Us   The word "ritiro" means a place apart, steeped in Franciscan heritage. Francis, like Jesus, "went apart for a time to pray". Jesus went to the desert or a high mountain to be alone and to pray. Francis, living the Gospel, also went apart to a hermitage or other places where he spent time in prayer and fasting. At this time in our history, we feel called to share our "place apart" with others.

The Ritiro is an integral part of the Congregation and gives specific witness to the primacy of prayer in the Franciscan way of life through the special means of silence, solitude, penance and simplicity of life. The rhythm of the day is a blend of silence, communal and personal prayer, work and together time. Wednesdays are hermit days where we are free from all schedules to enjoy the gift of solitude and personal prayer. The Sisters in the Ritiro minister to the congregation and the world by their life of prayer and service according to their gifts and talents.