With a rich history of over 750 years, since 1241, the Sisters of St. Francis, make up the North American Province of the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen who trace their origin to Bavaria, Germany. They continue to rely on the Providence of God as they praise and adore Him while serving the needs of the Church on the prairies of North Dakota. Apostolic works of this province include making liturgical vestments as well as conducting a lay retreat program offering spiritual direction at the Motherhouse in Hankinson; sponsoring and administering St. Gerard's Community Nursing Home, Independent Living and Childcare in Hankinson; teaching at Little Flower School, Rugby and in Parish Schools of Religion; serving elderly residents and others who need supervised living at St. Anne's Guest Home in Grand Forks; offering health care services at Oakes Community Hospital, Oakes. They are also actively involved in pro-life work, prayer support, administrative and domestic services in their own convents as well as in youth work around the area. Some Sisters are engaged in arts and crafts, others in music.

The most important work of these consecrated women, though, is prayer. As women of prayer, they continue the tradition of the founding Sisters, an early "group of bare-footed women" called to praise and adore God for the benefit of all who believe. They take seriously the many requests for prayer which come from around the world. The Franciscan Sisters have close ties with their Sisters throughout the world who live in provinces in Germany (800 Sisters), in Brazil (150 Sisters) and in India (100 Sisters, novices and candidates), as well as in individual missions in Albania, Spain and Switzerland