School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King
Province of St. Francis of Assisi, Lemont, IL USA
Province History
Four Sisters from the School Sisters of Saint Francis of Maribor (Austria) arrived on the eastern shores of the United States in October of 1909. These Sisters were bound for Saint John the Baptist Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, to teach immigrant children of the Slovenian and Croatian Peoples who were living there.
Circumstances were difficult and the Sisters struggled in the beginning. Soon they found themselves not only teaching, but caring for orphans, preparing the Church for liturgies, providing the music for Masses and other devotions, sewing, cleaning and doing all that would help maintain themselves and those who had been placed in their care.
In 1910 they took on a second school in Kansas City and then were called to the Chicago Archdiocese in Joliet, Illinois, in 1912. In 1915, they began to staff Sacred Heart Croatian Parish in South Chicago, Illinois which was to become their provincial center.
Next, in 1922, the Congregation was divided into provinces and the Sisters in America became the Province of Saint Francis of Assisi. New members and calls for service kept coming. The Sisters began to staff parish schools in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. By the mid 20's, they were even ministering in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1925, land was purchased in Lemont, Illinois, with the help of the Franciscan Fathers. It was in July of that year that Mass was first said in the new Mount Assisi Convent, which was dedicated in 1926. Here the Sisters who had taken ill were able to live and work in the country air and farm the land that was to become their new Provincial Center.
The period of growth in numbers and strength continued. In addition to answering calls to various parishes, the Sisters were able to build a new Mount Assisi Convent, completed in 1941 and an all-girls' high school was established in 1951 as well. Fulfilling the Sisters' dreams, in over 50 years of dedicated service this institution has stood for the Franciscan ideals of love, service, peace-making, and care for the poor and the earth. It has touched the lives of over 5000 young women preparing them to become Christian woman alive to the needs of others. These girls have gone on to give of themselves as moms, teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, and in a variety of other careers and volunteer positions in the Church and the community at large.
Earlier, they had also opened Saint Joseph's Home for the Elderly. which was later closed with plans for a new building written in their hearts. In the 1960's, the growth continued as Sisters were sent to new sights in Wisconsin and to far-away California. Thus, Sisters were offering their talents in a variety of ways from Eastern Pennsylvania to California with energy and enthusiasm.
In the early 70's. they were once again able to service the elderly when Alvernia Manor opened its doors. though not the originally planned cite or name, this new facility has provided a caring home for hundreds of senior citizens in its history.
Various programs for the benefit of the Sisters and their spiritual growth characterized the years after Vatican Council II. With the general decline in membership, the Sisters were forced to begin withdrawing from some of their parish commitments in the 1970's. Little be little they found themselves centralized in the Illinois area again having said a sad good-bye to the people and places where they had offered prayer, hard work, and a spirit of great dedication for many years.
In the 80's, the Sisters rejoiced in their blessings as they opened Our Lady of the Angles House of Prayer in Lemont. At first, this facility was a place of residence for three Sisters whose main ministry was prayer. Later, a Chapter decision transformed this house into a small retreat center for those seeking peace, direction, and a place away with the Lord. Since this time, hundreds of individuals and groups have enjoyed this facility and the hospitality of our Sisters.
Today, though small in number, the Sisters continue to offer themselves to the Church through prayer, community living and a variety of ministries which seek in Franciscan simplicity to bring the Gospel to life. Sisters can be found serving as pastoral ministers, Directors of Religious Education programs, full and part time teachers, administrators, tutors, and office personnel. they lead others in retreat experiences, share wisdom with those seeking guidance, proclaim the word of the Gospel in R.C.I.A. and other religious education situations. Sisters offer presentations to a variety of groups, comfort and healing to those who are ill or elderly, a gentle touch to the little ones in their classrooms. It is their hope that the daily witness of their lives or prayer and community brings to life again the hope and joy that Saint Francis once spread by his life and work.