Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to Leave Aleppo After 112 Years

The departure of the congregation has prompted widespread discussion among local Christian communities and former students, many of whom have long regarded the sisters as an integral part of Aleppo’s social and religious fabric. However, church leaders insist that the decision is not connected to political developments or security concerns in Syria.

According to Sister Pierrette Jabbour, regional councilor of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary for the Middle East, the decision was taken during the congregation’s regional chapter in 2018 and stems entirely from internal considerations.

She explained that the congregation, like many religious communities worldwide, is facing a decline in the number of sisters, an aging membership, and a shortage of new religious vocations. Similar restructuring measures are being implemented in the congregation’s communities in Egypt and Lebanon.

Under the congregation’s internal regulations, each religious community must consist of at least four sisters, a requirement that has become increasingly difficult to maintain in some locations.

Although the Salesians announced in May that they would assume responsibility for the Franciscan convent in Aleppo, the transition attracted little public attention until a Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated to mark the conclusion of the sisters’ ministry in the city.

In a recorded message, Bishop Hanna Jallouf, apostolic vicar of Latin-rite Catholics in Syria, said the congregation has been reassessing and reorganizing its presence in the country for more than five years. He noted that the sisters chose to strengthen their mission in the northeastern province of Hasakah, where they remain the only Catholic women’s religious congregation serving the region.

At the same time, the order decided to reinforce its presence in Damascus. Aleppo, by contrast, continues to host several men’s and women’s religious communities. In coordination with the Holy See, the Salesian Fathers will continue the work and mission historically carried out by the Franciscan sisters at the convent.

Jallouf also rejected speculation that linked the departure to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Syria, emphasizing that the decision had been under consideration for years as part of a broader organizational strategy.

For many Christian leaders in Syria, however, the departure carries significance beyond administrative restructuring.

The Rev. Ibrahim Nasir, president of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon, described the farewell as a moment marked by both gratitude and sorrow. While recognizing the sisters’ enduring contribution, he said the closure of such a longstanding mission represents a substantial loss for Aleppo and for the city’s Christian presence.

“Every institution that closes and every religious community that leaves creates a gap that is difficult to fill,” Nasir said.

He also argued that the sisters’ departure cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader challenges confronting Christian communities in Syria. Declining population numbers, continued emigration, and the closure of educational and pastoral institutions have placed increasing pressure on Christian life in Aleppo and across the country.

A Century-Long Legacy

The history of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Aleppo dates back to 1914, when the congregation arrived at the invitation of the city’s Maronite bishop. The sisters established the Our Lady of Lourdes Center near the Maronite Cathedral, laying the foundations for what would become one of the city’s most respected Catholic missions.

Their work was interrupted during World War I, when they were forced to leave the city. Yet they returned in 1919 and resumed their ministry amid widespread poverty and social hardship.

Education quickly became one of the congregation’s defining apostolates. The sisters first opened a school in Aleppo’s Aziziyah district before establishing the Franciscan Convent and School in the Sabil neighborhood in 1929. Over the following decades, the institution gained a reputation as one of the city’s leading educational centers.

The sisters’ mission extended well beyond the classroom. Alongside academic instruction, they cared for orphans, supported poor families, and assisted refugees. Their work touched generations of students from diverse religious and social backgrounds, reinforcing a tradition of coexistence and mutual respect.

The convent also became an important hub for girls’ scouting activities and served as a gathering place that fostered friendship and dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

Humanitarian and medical service formed another pillar of the congregation’s legacy. The sisters managed the Sheibani Orphanage, which provided care for children orphaned during the Ottoman massacres. They also administered Al Razi Hospital for decades, contributing significantly to healthcare development in Aleppo and helping improve access to medical services.

Even after the nationalization of their school in 1967, the sisters remained active in pastoral and social ministry. Their activities included catechetical programs, youth and children’s initiatives, outreach to university students, and support for church groups and associations.

They also devoted significant attention to the Jabal al Sayyideh, or Sheikh Maqsoud, neighborhood, where they engaged in Christian formation, pastoral care, and social development efforts. Through vocational training programs, they sought to address unemployment and equip local residents with practical skills.

As the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary prepare to leave Aleppo, they leave behind a legacy deeply woven into the city’s educational, social, humanitarian, and religious history. While their physical presence is coming to an end, their influence remains visible in the institutions they built, the communities they served, and the generations of Aleppans whose lives were shaped by more than a century of dedicated ministry.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from EWTN News