By Eileen Connelly, OSU

ARCHDIOCESE — The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are celebrating decades of service, healing and hope this year as they mark the 150th anniversary of their arrival in the United States.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The beatification portrait of Blessed Frances Schervier now hangs at St. Clare Convent in Hartwell.

In her autobiography, Frances Schervier wrote of her call to be of service to those in need, saying, "It seemed to me that I had perceived from the cross that I should dedicate myself entirely to the Lord through active works of charity. A fire of holy love for my neighbor burned within me. I felt a great desire to seek out and love the Lord in the poor, the sick, and the unfortunate. I believed that I saw the Lord himself in the poor and the sick, and I was overjoyed at being able to serve and care for Him."

Mother Frances’ faith and dedication extended to the six Sisters who left Aachen in1858, bound for Cincinnati to begin their care of the city’s poor German immigrants. They arrived in New York City, where they were met by then-Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, then made their way to Cincinnati via a 36-hour train ride. The Sisters settled at the former St. Aloysius Boys Orphan Asylum, which served as their first temporary convent and hospital until 1859.

The foundation of two permanent healthcare facilities quickly followed — St. Mary Hospital, which was replaced by Providence Hospital in 1971, and St. Elizabeth’s in Covington, ownership of which was transferred to the diocese there in 1973.

Sister Arleen Bourquin lights a candle before morning prayer at the congregational assembly.

The Sisters’ healing ministry expanded in the subsequent decades, stretching from New York to Illinois, and they were inspired by two visits from Mother Frances prior to her death in 1876. More hospitals were established, including St. Francis Hospital, which was geared toward serving the chronically ill and infirmed elderly.

In 1894, the congregation purchased 42.5 acres of land in Hartwell for a new motherhouse — the present St. Clare Convent. By 1959, the order had received approval by Rome to divide into two distinct apostolic congregations — the European group with their generalate in Aachen, and the American congregation with its generalate in Frascati, Italy. In 1980, the congregation founded its mission to Senegal, West Africa, and formally adopted its associate program.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor founded 24 hospitals, nine long-term care facilities, six social service agencies and numerous other ministries. In 1999, the Sisters divested of their health system, Franciscan Health Partnership, which became part of Mercy Health Partners of Southwest Ohio (MHP). The congregation is now one of five sponsors of Catholic Health Partners (the parent organization of MHP), along with the Sisters of Mercy. Their healing ministry continues to flourish in a variety of settings including holistic health care, social services and pastoral/spiritual care.

The 150th anniversary was an occasion for the congregation to both celebrate the past and look to the future. The Sisters and associates marked the anniversary with a variety of activities in May. At St. Clare Convent, it was almost as if Mother Frances herself was present for the celebration when a larger-than-life portrait of her arrived from Italy, where it had hung outside the Vatican for her beautification. The restored painting now hangs near the convent dining room. In addition, the Franciscans published a commemorative book entitled Many Souls, One Journey, which tells the stories of some of the courageous Sisters who made their foundress’ dream a reality.

On May 9, a group of 35 Sisters and associates visited the Drop-Inn Center in Cincinnati, where they prepared, served and shared a meal with the clients. They chose to celebrate this way rather than having a dinner party because it was more in keeping with the congregation’s traditions and charism, said Sister Joanne Schuster, congregational councilor for the United States.

"It continues to be our privilege to be with the poor, so it was the natural thing to do to celebrate with them," she said.

CT/TONY TRIBBLE

Sister Gina from Italy, center, serves dinner at the Drop Inn center in Over-the-Rhine.

In order to insure their future viability and financial stability, the Sisters voted to sponsor four ministries established by the congregation — a soup kitchen in New York, the Franciscans for the Poor Volunteer Program, Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart, which provides professional haircare for the poor, and Our Lady of the Woods, a group home for the elderly.

"We want to ensure that these ministries will succeed and continue," Sister Joanne explained. "The decision was made to sponsor them under the congregation again so our charism and spirit of why they were founded will continue even if our Sisters aren’t present."

The occasion of the anniversary was also the chance for each Sister to reflect on her own vocation and what 150 years of history means to her. Said Sister Arlene McGowan, who serves as vocations minister for the congregation, "Our mission and charism are very relevant in today’s word with so many poor, marginalized and oppressed people in need."

"It means standing on the shoulders of incredible women of the past and feeling their support and their energy," added Sister Marilyn Trowbridge. "It’s the opportunity to look around and see the women of today who are living in the hope and awareness that our world still needs healing."

Noted Sister Marilyn, "We dream that we will continue to be a community of hope, planting the seeds for tomorrow, that we will continue to bear witness wherever we are of being healers."