Franciscan Missionary Sisters end 110 years of service in Aleppo
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary ended more than a century of service in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo, concluding a presence that began in 1913, the congregation announced on Saturday.
The decision was announced during a thanksgiving Mass in Aleppo, where Sister Renée Koussa, Superior of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary convent, said the move is part of the congregation’s internal restructuring and the redistribution of its members.
She stressed that the decision was not related to the security situation in Syria but rather to a decline in the number of sisters, which has required the order to reassign personnel among its communities in the country. The reorganization coincides with the opening of a new convent in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah Governorate.
The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary established their presence in Aleppo in 1913 and became widely known for their pastoral work, humanitarian assistance, education, and healthcare services. Over more than 110 years, they served people from different religious and social backgrounds and built strong ties with the city’s diverse communities.
The congregation also managed several educational institutions, including the well-known Our Lady of Mary Franciscan School in Aleppo’s Sabil neighborhood. In addition to education, the sisters provided ongoing support to poor and vulnerable families, extending their role beyond religious ministry to broader humanitarian and social work.
The departure marks the end of a significant chapter in Aleppo’s Catholic and Francophone heritage. For decades, the sisters formed part of a network of educational, social and healthcare institutions that contributed to the city’s Christian presence and left a lasting legacy across generations.
According to the congregation, the pastoral and social services previously carried out by the sisters will continue. The Salesian Fathers will assume responsibility for the convent and continue its religious, educational and charitable mission to ensure uninterrupted services for the local community.
Aleppo has long been one of Syria’s principal centers of Christian life, home to several Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant denominations. Before the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Christians were estimated to make up around 10 percent of Syria’s population. Years of conflict, economic hardship and migration have significantly reduced Christian communities across the country, although churches and religious organizations continue to provide education, healthcare and humanitarian assistance in many areas. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary have maintained missions in Syria for more than a century and remain active in other parts of the country, including Hasakah, where the congregation is expanding its presence.