This year of 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Our Community began on November 9, 1869, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. In order to share this historic moment with our St. Francis Parish Family, we decided to host an open house. Wanting to include our school families as well, the opening of Catholic Schools Week made a perfect time for our event.
Sister Judy welcomed each of our guests as they walked to our house after mass.
Once in our house, our guests were invited into the chapel where Sister Kathleen greeted them and offered a prayer of blessing upon our home and theirs. Our book of prayers was in chapel so all could add their own petitions. They were promised that we would bring their needs before the Lord daily.
The Principal, Mrs. Lewis, helped Sister Annette serve the refreshments.
Everyone was eager to relax and enjoy a piece of cake and other nibbles along with some sweet tea.
We each had time to visit with our guests and exchange memories and delightful stories.
Note the archival pages displayed behind Sister Maria Goretti.
We had printed off many of the archival pages which Sister Caritas has been posting on our Community Facebook page. These we displayed on the cupboard doors for our guests to enjoy.
Day is done and smiles are still shining!
We have also been sharing the blessings of our founding through weekly articles printed in our parish bulletin. The first in the series offered a brief history of our community and its roots; ” Our Sisters have built our lives on faith in a loving God. We are deeply rooted in Franciscan tradition, in love for the Church, and mindful of our title, in selfless dedication to the service of others.” (Taken from a community history shared by Sister Caritas.) The articles sharing the beginnings of our community are being followed by a brief history of St. Francis School, leading up to the coming of our Sisters 21 years ago. This will be followed by pictures and recollections of and about all the Sisters who have ministered here over the years.
We are so blessed and have so much to be grateful for as Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.
We “join those who have gone before us in echoing the words of St. Francis as he said, ‘I have done what is mine (to do); may Christ teach you what is yours (to do)! ‘We continue to trust in God’s hand guiding us into the future. God calls you. We invite you.” (Taken from our Community history.)