ifense.com

The Franciscan Evangelizing Sisters of Our Lady of Hope are a Catholic religious fraternity dedicated to sharing the Christian faith and making the Kingdom of God present through prayer, service, their way of life, and the proclamation of the Word. Inspired by Jesus’ mission to bring good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed, the community also follows the example of Saint Francis of Assisi. Founded in 1985 in Azinhaga, in Portugal’s Ribatejo region, the fraternity received canonical approval in 1988. Its headquarters moved to Santarém in 2001.

The fraternity supports religious formation through a programme spanning pre-novitiate, novitiate, juniorate, and ongoing formation. Its vocational pastoral work invites young people to deepen their faith and self-understanding and learn about the community’s charism. The website also shares spiritual articles, biblical reflections, vocational resources, photographs, videos, and information about youth pastoral initiatives. Through these activities, the sisters seek to evangelize and accompany people in their spiritual journeys. The community is based in Santarém, Portugal.