The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany are located at the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. Founded in 1859, the Franciscan Sisters have been helping out the Allegany community through practicing the ideals of the Franciscan faith. These Franciscan Sisters participate in service work projects and help out not just the Allegany community but throughout the world as well. The Motherhouse in Allegany is the center meeting place where the Sisters meet and live together while practicing community.
The Freidsam Memorial Library, on St. Bonaventure University campus, is home to many important works of literature and art, archival research, and special collections. It houses two very special collections including that of Robert Lax and Thomas Merton. The library was built in 1937 and was named after Colonel Michael Friedsam. Before dying, Friedsam believed in giving his money to intuitions, such as St. Bonaventure, to provide the improvement of “youth and the human condition” (St. Bonaventure University archives).
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was curated in 1925 as a place for people to go to connect with God, their spirituality, or to just be alone with their thoughts, here on campus. In the past it has been used for outdoor ceremonies, team meetings before games, mass, and the list goes on. Once a swamp, this beautiful grotto has withstood the test of time with the flourishing woods-growing with it, as well as the community here at St. Bonaventure.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
This is a mini tour that starts at the Motherhouse for the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and makes a couple stops on St. Bonaventure University's campus that connect to the Franciscan religion
