Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart

The Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women based in Frankfort, Illinois, and located in the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. The Sisters serve in healthcare, education, religious education, parish and diocesan ministries and ministry to the poor.[1] Following the Rule of Saint Francis of Assisi and as members of the Third Order Regular, they are women dedicated to sharing their lives in prayer, community and ministry. Their founder, Father Wilhelm Berger, defined their ministries as works of neighborly love.

History

Founding

In 1866, Sister Coletta Himmelsbach and three other women in Seelbach, Germany, accepted the challenge to serve the poor, the sick and the aging of their village. From this small group grew the Congregation now known as the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The Sisters cared for the sick in their homes, nursed victims of the plagues of smallpox and typhoid fever. They taught the young and opened their convent doors to the orphans and to the elderly. They worked on the battlefield nursing the wounded of the Franco-Prussian War. During the period of the Kulturkampf, the Sisters were forced to disband or find a new home in a new land. While discerning their course of action, the Rev. Dominic Duehmig from the United States invited the Sisters to this country.

America

On May 17, 1876, four Sisters set sail for America, settling in Avilla, Indiana, in the Diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Within a short time, 23 other Sisters from Germany joined them. Mother Anastasia Bischler was elected as their first General Superior. Archbishop Patrick Feehan of Chicago approved their Constitutions on March 10, 1888. The Religious Institute was granted Pontifical status on July 16, 1898. Because of expanding ministries, the Motherhouse was transferred to Joliet, Illinois, in 1883. In 1964 it was transferred to Frankfort, Illinois, where it is presently located.[2] The sisters ran many healthcare facilities, like the Queen of Angels Hospital.[3]

Today

As Franciscan women religious, the Sisters are faithful to God’s continuous creative action in their lives. They joyfully embrace their vowed life and the Franciscan values of poverty, humility, contemplation and continual conversion. Their deep trust in Divine Providence continually supports their readiness to respond in a prophetic way to the needs of others through their varied ministries of education, healing and service. They live communally in convents located in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and California as well as in the Amazon area of Brazil, South America.[4]

References
  1. "Franciscan Sisters Of The Sacred Heart". tools.frankfortchamber.com. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  2. "Our History". Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  3. Ford, Andrea (1989-01-27). "For Health Reasons ... : Queen of Angels Closes Its Doors, Moves In With a Partner". Los Angeles Times.
  4. "Archives of Franciscan Sisters of Sacred Heart". fssharchives.com. Retrieved 2018-06-15.

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