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Maria
Catherine Moes, later known as Mother Alfred Moes the
foundress of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Joliet,
Illinois, and the Sisters of Saint Francis Rochester,
Minnesota, and her sister Catherine Moes were natives of
Remich, Luxemburg. Records show they spent some time in
Wisconsin with Father Casper Rehrl before going to
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to become novices, Sister Genovefa
and Sister Bernarda, with the School Sisters of Notre
Dame until 1855. Records then show the Moes Sisters as
Sister Alfred and Sister Barbara, Marianites of the Holy
Cross in Notre Dame, Indiana, 1856-1863. They
subsequently left the Marianite Community, continued to
teach in the area and became acquainted with the
Franciscan Friars.
1.
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY
www.AlleganyFranciscans.org
Then on June 1, 1863 Mother Alfred, Sister Barbara, and
two companions from Indiana, Sister Bernard Peacar,
and Sister Albert Stockhoff, asked for and received the
Franciscan Rule from Father Theodore Vanderpoel as
designated by Father Pamfilo da Magliano, founder of
St. Bonaventure, Allegany, New York. In 1865 Mother
Alfred and a postulant traveled to Allegany where Fr.
Pamfilo named M. Alfred superior of a new Franciscan
Congregation in Joliet, IL, and received the young woman
into that congregation. These years were a time of many
changes for the two Moes sisters, but they persisted in
their desire to find the right place for them to serve
as educators of immigrant children.
2. Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, Joliet, IL
www.jolietfranciscans.org
Mother Alfred Moes and Father Pamfilo da Magliano, OFM,
founded this Congregation in Joliet, which was
officially established on
 August 2, 1865, to educate the
children of the area. During the next eleven years,
Mother Alfred and the Sisters attracted so many new
members that she could place Sisters in 36 schools. In
Joliet she established a Motherhouse, took in orphans,
opened St. Francis Academy, and reached out to a number
of ethnic communities. However, in 1876 Bishop Foley of
Chicago removed Mother Alfred from the leadership
position. She was sent to Minnesota to build academies,
and there established a second Congregation, the Sisters
of Saint Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of
Lourdes in Rochester, Minnesota.
The Joliet community continued to prosper; the Guardian
Angel Home for Orphans, the College of St. Francis and
Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home were built, occupied
and maintained. Later these Franciscans extended their
mission of education to Brazil, opened a House of
Prayer, and responded in many ways to the needs of the
people of God.
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3. Sisters of St.
Francis of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, founded
December 23, 1877 by Mother Alfred Moes, who was joined
by 24 of the Joliet Sisters.
www.rochesterfranciscan.org
4. Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Ferguson/St. Louis, MO
www.franciscansisters-olph.org
This Congregation was founded on May 29, 1901, in the
Archdiocese of St. Louis by a parish priest, Father
Urban Stanowski, pastor of St. Stanislaus, St. Louis,
MO, and
 three Franciscan sisters, Solana Leczna,
Ernestine and Hilaria Matz, who had been members of the
Joliet, Illinois, foundation. They were soon joined by
others, all of Polish origin, and like them desiring to
serve their own people in parishes predominantly
composed of Polish Catholics. The Institute flourished
and received Papal approval on June 6, 1902. Their work
at first was in elementary and high schools with a few
members doing domestic work in other institutions in the
region and beyond. Also, some conducted a school for
African Americans or worked among the Native Americans.
In recent years, their mission has expanded into other
fields as well.
5. Sisters of St. Francis of Our Lady of Lourdes,
Sylvania, OH http://sistersosf.org
This Congregation began as a Province of the Sisters of
Saint Francis, Rochester, Minnesota, and originally was
intended to
 serve only those of Polish heritage. In
1916-17 forty-eight Rochester members began serving in
the area of St. Hedwig's Parish in Toledo, Ohio.
Sister Adelaide Sandusky, who was named Superior, soon
established the group on an acreage a few miles away at
Sylvania. The community continued as a Province until
1930 when it became autonomous. Works included education
and health care. Due to Mother Adelaide's interest and
expertise, the buildings are artistically constructed
and furnished, and much emphasis is given to beauty and
grandeur.
Lourdes College was begun by the Congregation and
continues today, as do several hospitals administered by
the Sisters; however, as with most groups of women
religious today, ministries have been extended to a wide
variety of activities. |
