Our Journey. Sisters of St. Francis. Clinton, Iowa

Transcription

1 Our Journey Sisters of St. Francis Clinton, Iowa

2 The story of the Sisters of St. Francis dates back to 1866 in Gethsemani, Kentucky. After the Civil War, the Trappist monks had begun a school for boys and needed women who could teach the girls. Caroline Warren, Sally Walker and Lizzie Lillis answered a call to conduct a school. They took vows and were declared the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis by Bishop Lavialle, of Louisville, Kentucky, on January 21, Bishop Lavialle Because of the state of the economy following the war, the Mount Olivet School struggled for several years due to lack of external support, especially financial help. By 1881 conditions were desperate. The Sisters persevered in trying to maintain the school. Their energy was drained, however, over a controversy regarding a debt on the building in which the school was housed. They didn t have enough funds for even the bare essentials of life. According to the history, It was impossible to purchase enough food, fuel and clothing, let alone try to liquidate debt First motherhouse established in Mt. Olivet, Kentucky Congregation founded Motherhouse moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky.

3 The head of the congregation, Mother Agnes Mooney, wrote to the Bishop of Louisville advising him that they were existing on a diet of corn bread. After several more years of trying to convince the Kentucky hierarchy of the value of their endeavor, the Sisters decided to request acceptance into the Diocese of Dubuque, Iowa. Mother Agnes Mooney In 1890, some of the Sisters left for the Dubuque Diocese, which included most of the state of Iowa at the time. The Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque gave the Sisters a portion of their convent in which to stay. Some Sisters left to open schools in Vail and Mason City, Iowa. By December of that year the entire congregation had moved to Iowa and the bishop found them a motherhouse in Anamosa, where some Sisters lived and staffed a school Motherhouse moved to Anamosa, Iowa Congregation moved to the Diocese of Dubuque, Iowa.

4 While the Sisters were living in cramped quarters in Anamosa in 1891, Rev. James A. Murray, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Clinton, Iowa sought them out as he needed teachers for St. Patrick School. In 1893, Rev. Murray helped them acquire the Chase property and the new motherhouse of Mount St. Clare was established. In 1893, the Sisters opened Mount St. Clare Academy, and the ministry of secondary education began. Rev. James A. Murray Between 1902 and 1922, the congregation assumed the operation of three hospitals in Grinnell and Burlington, Iowa and Macomb, Illinois Established motherhouse in Clinton, Iowa and opened Mount St. Clare Academy Clinton County became part of the newly-formed Davenport Diocese. Sisters purchased the Corbin property and built the present St. Clare Hall Began ministry of healthcare with hospital in Macomb, Illinois.

5 In 1914, Mount Alverno became a nursing home for the care of frail and elderly persons sisters and lay persons. It was the first such facility in Clinton County and was named Mount Alveno Home for the Aged. The Sisters chartered their college, Mount St. Clare College, in 1918 to meet the need for well-trained teachers in the county and in the parish schools they staffed throughout the Midwest. The Sisters began operating the Mount St. Clare Speech and Hearing Center, the first such clinic in Eastern Iowa, in 1943, to meet the needs of stroke victims and children with disabilities. (Pictured is Sister Edward Smith.) The speech and hearing center, which closed its doors in 2012, was housed on the college campus Began ministry of higher education by chartering Mount St. Clare College for Women Began ministry to the elderly in Clinton. Former Mount St. Clare Academy building became Mount Alverno Home for the Aged Founded Mount St. Clare Speech and Hearing Center.

6 By the 1950 s Clinton Franciscans were teaching as far away as California, in Reedley, Riverside, and Chino. In 1960, the Sisters opened Mary Star of the Sea Primary School and nursing Sisters staffed the Rand Hospital in Freeport, Grand Bahamas. The Ritter Home in Burlington, Iowa was deeded to the Clinton Franciscans in 1957 for the purpose of providing a residence for elderly women. The home was operated by the Sisters until In 1965, four Sisters were assigned to education ministry in Chulucanas, Peru. Sister Phyllis Morris is still living and working there today Purchased home on Springdale Drive to house Polish immigrants Opened Mary Star of the Sea Primary School in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Parish elementary and high schools grew and flourished Four Sisters missioned to the Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru to serve in educational and Catechetical ministry.

7 The Sisters opened Mount St. Clare Preschool, in Clinton, in The school served 3- to 5-year-old children and was later expanded to include a child care center and also served as a lab school for education students. Following the direction of Vatican II, the renewal chapter convoked and the congregation began the movement into new ministries. Sisters not only continued serving in education and healthcare, but they gradually assumed new roles in parishes and in a variety of ministries to aid those most marginalized in our society. In 1971, the Alverno was built on 13th Avenue North and the Chase property was sold. The present Alverno was sold to Trinity Senior Living Centers in Sister Marjorie Wisor met the founder of L Arche International, Jean Vanier, while studying in Paris. This led to the beginnings of the first L Arche home in Clinton in There are currently three L Arche homes and an apartment program in Clinton Built the present Alverno Health Care Facility on 13th Avenue North Started Mount St. Clare Preschool Founded the first L Arche home in Clinton, Iowa.

8 The Associate program began in The first Associates to make a commitment to pray with, support and work alongside the Sisters were thirteen lay men and women in Clinton. In 1997, 45 Sisters moved into The Canticle, the seventh motherhouse of the congregation. The Canticle is located on the prairie, at the heart of the congregation s property in Clinton. The 50 acres surrounding The Canticle have been restored to native communities of prairie grass and flowers. In 2000, the Clinton Franciscans adopted active nonviolence and peacemaking as a way of life and the Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking was created. It became the central focus of the Sisters mission. On December 5, 2002, Mount St. Clare College advanced to university status and was renamed The Franciscan University Moved into The Canticle, the fifth motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis The Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking initiated Established Associate Program Mount St. Clare College becomes The Franciscan University.

9 The Sojourner program began in Sojourners embrace a commitment to prayer, study, reflection and conversion of heart. In 2004, the name of the University was changed to the Franciscan University of the Prairies. In 2005, the college was sold to Bridgepoint Education and the name was changed to Ashford University. The Clinton Franciscans continued to be involved with Ashford and several remained on the teaching and administrative staff. Ashford University continued to remember the inspiration provided by members of the Sisters of St. Francis. The 2016 graduating class will mark the last year of Ashford University. The school announced that the Clinton campus will close at the end of May The inability to meet campus enrollment requirements was a key factor for the closure. Bridgepoint has entered into a purchase agreement with Clinton Catalyst LLC to sell the campus to the company. In March of 2009, the Sisters administrative offices were moved from the college to a new building located near The Canticle. The building was designed and constructed to reflect the congregation s commitment to care of the earth Established Sojourner Program Opening of the new Administrative Office building College was sold to Bridgepoint Education and became Ashford.

10 In February 2010, the following mission statement was adopted: We Clinton Franciscans, in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, are called to contemplation and continual conversion and are sent as instruments of God's peace. We promote active nonviolence and peacemaking, seek justice for those marginalized and care for all creation. In 2012, Sister LaVern Olberding founded the Franciscan Peace Connection in La Mesa, California, an outreach ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis. In 2014, the name of the Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking was changed to the Franciscan Peace Center. Advocacy efforts of the Center are focused in the three areas most identified with the Franciscan charism: active nonviolence, poverty and social justice, and care for creation. Today the Sisters have members not only in Iowa, but in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon and Peru. There are currently 55 Sisters, 1 Novice, 17 Sojourners and 62 Associates Adopted the Mission Statement for Active Nonviolence & Peacemaking The Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking was renamed the Franciscan Peace Center Opened the Franciscan Peace Connection Celebrating 150 years! Established the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Endowment.

11 In 2016, the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Endowment was established at the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend to provide a lasting source of support for our mission. The Endowment allows donors to help sustain our ministry and work in Clinton County. Currently, the Endowment will be used to help alleviate homelessness and will financially assist organizations that currently work with those living in poverty or at the risk of being homeless. We offer you the opportunity to make a gift to the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Endowment. How to Make a Gift: Checks should be made payable to the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, with a notation that the gift is for the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Endowment. Mail your contribution to: Community Foundation of the Great River Bend 852 Middle Road, Suite 100 Bettendorf, IA You can also give online at: Select Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Endowment Gifts of cash, stock or other types of gifts - such as bequests - can be directed to the Endowment. Endow Iowa 25% Tax Credit All gifts to the Endowment made by Iowa taxpayers (individuals, corporations, partnerships, estates and trusts) qualify for an Endow Iowa tax credit of 25% of the value of the gift. This credit is in addition to other charitable tax deductions.

12 We have been given a wealth of blessings in our 150 years. We have daily reminders that we are not alone in working for change. We are truly and deeply grateful to all of YOU, for we could not mark this milestone of 150 years of ministry without acknowledging you, our companions on the journey. Please know that we cherish your help and your friendship. We look to the future with optimism and eagerness to do what is ours do to. We will continue to live out our mission of active nonviolence and peacemaking. We hope that you will continue on the journey with us. Consider a gift to the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa to help us sustain our mission and continue our work of active nonviolence and peacemaking. Enclosed is an envelope for your convenience. You can also give via credit card online at Thank you for your generosity! A complete map of the Missions and Missionary Assignments throughout the last 150 years for the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa has been complied online at The link also provides information on our current Sisters and those who have gone before us. Sisters of St. Francis Development Office th Avenue North Clinton, IA aeberhart@clintonfranciscans.com