Rooted in Faith, Growing in Love: The Story of the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak

In the lush, multiethnic heartland of Sarawak, East Malaysia, a unique Franciscan congregation quietly lives out the Gospel in simplicity, prayer, and service.

The little-known Sisters of St. Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) are indigenous women religious whose history stretches back almost a century, their roots entwined with the pioneering spirit of foreign missionaries and their future shaped by the faith of local communities.

“We were born locally, and we serve the locals,” Sister Rose Wong Pik Ling, Superior General of the SSFS, says.  

“Our mission is to be a visible sign of God’s love, to live humbly and simply among the people, and to witness to Christ’s love through our presence.”

Their story begins in 1885, when five English sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph (FMSJ) arrived in Sarawak at the invitation of Fr Thomas Jackson, of the Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM).

Their mission was clear: to care for orphans, educate girls, and minister to the poor and abandoned. Within weeks of their arrival, the first five Chinese schoolgirls had entered their convent school, laying the foundations of St Teresa’s Convent School, one of Sarawak’s most enduring Catholic institutions.

The FMSJ sisters also became known for their care of abandoned and sick children, particularly during cholera epidemics. A children’s hospital, donated in 1923, extended its work further into nursing and training local caregivers. Over time, their presence grew far beyond Kuching into rural outstations like Kanowit, Dalat, Mukah, and Sibu, bringing education and healthcare to remote corners of Sarawak.

A local congregation is born

But the vision of the Church in Sarawak was never only to depend on foreign missionaries. On January 10, 1928, Msgr Edmund Dunn, MHM, then Prefect Apostolic of Sarawak, encouraged the formation of a local congregation of sisters. Guided by the FMSJ and inspired by the Franciscan rule, the Little Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (LSSFS) were born.

Initially trained by Mother Mary Francis McGreeves, FMSJ, these young women made their first vows and worked alongside their European counterparts. By 1957, the congregation became a fully recognised diocesan order, and in 1971, with foreign missionaries required to leave Sarawak, the LSSFS assumed responsibility for schools, maternity homes, and pastoral outreach, until then managed by the FMSJ.

In 1978, they adopted the name they carry today - the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) - signalling both maturity and mission.

“We are the daughters of this soil,” says Sr Rose. “Our pioneers taught us, but it was God’s Spirit that planted our vocation deeply into the heart of Sarawak.”

Like many religious congregations, the SSFS faced challenges of identity and renewal. In 1989, the community entered what Sr Rose describes as a “spiritual crisis.”

“Under the guidance of Archbishop Peter Chung and Franciscan friars Fr Maurice Carmody and Fr Owen Awcook, the sisters embarked on a deep process of renewal, rediscovering their Franciscan charism of simplicity, humility, and solidarity with the poor.

‘Religious life must always be in crisis’

“Religious life should always be in crisis,” Sr Rose reflects. “It keeps us attentive to the Holy Spirit, who never rests. Renewal is not about changing who we are but rediscovering what Christ is asking of us in every age.”

During this period, the sisters drafted their first Vision and Mission statements, studied Franciscan spirituality in depth, and began professional training for new ministries. The energy of renewal propelled them forward.

Today, the 63 fully professed sisters, along with a small group of novices and temporarily professed sisters, live out their charism in diverse ministries. They run kindergartens, work in homes for the aged and the disabled, offer pastoral care in parishes, and accompany youth, families, and the sick.

Their mission is not limited by religion or ethnicity. In multi-religious Sarawak, the sisters embody inclusivity, visiting longhouses, kampungs (villages), and hospitals, often simply offering presence, prayer, and listening.

“Like St. Francis, we preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, we use words,” says Sr Rose.

Their community life reflects Sarawak’s diversity: Chinese, Bidayuh, Iban, Melanau, and Kenyah sisters live together, enriching one another’s cultures and creating what Sr Rose calls a “common culture of SSFS that is welcoming, hospitable, and inclusive.”

Formation for the future

Despite a decline in vocations worldwide, the SSFS continues to attract young women who seek meaning and belonging. Their formation process is careful and lifelong, beginning with vocational accompaniment and moving through postulancy, novitiate, and temporary profession, before final vows.

“Young women today are searching for balance - prayer, work, and community life,” Sr Rose explains. “Religious life offers them a sense of belonging, where they can encounter God in each other and discover a deeper purpose.”

Currently, the congregation has three sisters in temporary profession and two novices, small but significant numbers for the future.

Like many religious institutes, the SSFS faces real challenges: the declining number of sisters, rapid social and technological changes, and the demands of adapting to government policies in education and healthcare. Yet the community draws strength from prayer, regular retreats, and above all, the Eucharist.

“The Eucharist is our source of nourishment,” says Sr Rose. “From it, we draw strength to live a life of humble service, sacrificial love, and witness to the Gospel.”

The sisters also see environmental stewardship as central to their Franciscan spirituality. “Creation is God’s gift,” Sr Rose notes. “To care for it is to honour the Creator.”

Towards a centenary

As they prepare to celebrate their Centenary in 2028, the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak look back with gratitude and forward with confidence. Their theme, “Advancing our union with Christ towards centenary and beyond,” captures both memory and mission.

“Our dream for the next generation is simple: never forget your roots, and always begin again,” Sr Rose says, recalling the words of St Francis: “For until now, we have done nothing; let us begin again.”

From humble beginnings with abandoned children and small village schools, the SSFS has become a vital part of Sarawak’s spiritual and social fabric. They are known not only as educators and caregivers but also as witnesses of hope, faith, and joy.

“We want people to remember that we are here to serve - not for ourselves, but for Christ and for others,” Sr Rose concludes. “In everything we do, we strive to live out the Gospel in simplicity, humility, and love.”