Our 150th anniversary begins - a celebration throughout 2025 January 7, 2025 1:52 PM
Remarks from Sister Maureen O’Connor, OSF, Superior
Today, January 6, 2025, we begin the celebration of our 150th anniversary – a historic year for our community. 150 years ago, in the year 1875, the Kulturkampf raged with ever-increasing violence in Prussia and we had to fear that we would be banished just like other religious. Bishop Peter Baltes of Alton, Illinois, felt that the time had come to supply a pressing need of charitable Sisters who would provide health care services in his diocese. He wrote to the Motherhouse in Muenster, Germany to request they consider sending Sisters for this opportunity. In a letter from Mother General Bernhardine to Bishop Baltes, she explained that his appeal was granted because the acceptance of new members had become impossible due to the new religious laws. From this letter, our story in America begins and may this candle shine throughout this anniversary year as a symbol of our legacy.
Following the letter to Bishop Baltes, Mother Bernhardine sent a letter requesting volunteers to serve in America, and 20 Sisters were chosen. On the 6th day of each month, we will commemorate this anniversary. The 6th day of the month is significant because it was on November 6, 1875, that our 20 founding Sisters arrived in Alton, IL. Those 20 Sisters were brave and selfless as they walked into an unknown land. While we cannot know all the hardships they faced, we are certain of the results of their labors. The legacy they established has brought Christ’s healing presence to many people over these 150 years and the hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin are a living example of what their trust and perseverance brought to life. As we embark on this year-long celebration, let us be thankful for those first sisters. The candles that will be brought forward will be shared with our 4 hospitals who also are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. Representatives from the hospitals will visit here in the upcoming months.
In honor of the founders of St. John’s Hospital (Springfield, IL):
Mother Angelica, Sister Cyrilla, Sister Basilia, Sister Crispina, and Sister Ulrika
In honor of the founders of St. Francis Hospital (Litchfield, IL):
Sister Augustina, Sister Fridolina, and Sister Rosa
In honor of the founders of St. Anthony’s Hospital (Effingham, IL):
Sister Euphemia, Sister Fortunata, and Sister Franziska
In honor of the founders of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (O'Fallon, IL):
Sister Gerburgis, Sister Jovita, and Sister Silvana
In honor of the Sisters who served in Alton, IL:
Sister Zosima and Sister Macaria
In honor of the Sisters who served in East St. Louis, IL:
Sister Rolendis, Sister Henriette, Sister Aurelia, and Sister Cassiana
In memoriam: Sister Mary Lou Durbin December 26, 2024 2:20 PM
Sister Mary Louise Durbin, OSF (age 87) died on December 25, 2024, at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL.
Sister Mary Lou was born in Ramsey, IL on March 1, 1937, the daughter of Bernard and Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Durbin. She entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on September 8, 1954, and professed her first vows on June 13, 1957.
Sister Mary Lou was a 1962 graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. She served as a nurse at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin and nursing homes, specializing in long-term facility care. She also served at St. Francis Convent as a nurse from 1978-87 and as a health service assistant from 1998-2012. In addition, she was a reading tutor for first-grade students at Riverton Elementary School, Riverton, IL, from 2011-13.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Leland Leon Durbin, and a sister, Rose Marie Martie. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Leland Leon Durbin, and a sister, Rose Marie Martie. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Virginia Durbin, and several nieces and a nephew along with their families, as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for 70 years.
The Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 29. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Richard Chiola on Monday, December 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel with burial in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery at St. Francis Convent.
On November 6, 1875, 20 Hospital Sisters of St. Francis from Germany arrived in Alton, IL - thus the beginning of our history in America. As we anticipate our 150th anniversary in 2025, we share this entry from the Diary of Sister Crispina Topp, OSF - one of the 20 Sisters.
Our Franciscan family November 4, 2024 10:06 AM
We welcomed two Associates on November 3, 2024, during the Eucharistic Liturgy in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel and Father Stephen Boyle, O.Praem. was the celebrant. The Associates are Rick Haberkorn and Kathleen Walden, Springfield, IL.
“Nearly 40 years ago, the Church found ways to welcome those men and women who desired a way to deepen their baptismal commitment by accepting God’s call to live according to the Gospel but not profess vows,” explained Nancy Davis, Associate Coordinator. “One of the ways was through an Associate relationship to a religious community and in the Hospital Sisters’ tradition, our Associates seek to model themselves in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and the example of our Sisters,” explained Nancy.
These two Associates join 110 Associates who embrace Franciscan values and the Hospital Sisters’ spirit while sharing the compassion of Jesus with others. Associates meet monthly to share their faith on spiritual and Franciscan topics in the tradition of the Hospital Sisters’ spirituality. They also join the Sisters in prayer, community, celebration, and ministry.
Founded in 1987, Associates of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is a ministry that welcomes baptized Christians 18 years or older with gatherings in Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Springfield, and Streator, IL; and Eau Claire, Green Bay, and Sheboygan, WI.
Sister Maureen O'Connor, Sister Marilyn McCormick, Kathleen Walden, Rick Haberkorn, Mike Sgro, and Nancy Davis
In memoriam: Sister Anne Carlino, OSF September 5, 2024 4:26 PM
Sister Anne Carlino, OSF, (age 88) died on September 4, 2024, at St. Francis Convent.
Sister Anne was born in Brooklyn, NY, on March 15, 1936, the daughter of Theodore and Vivian (Terrano) Carlino. She entered the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis on September 8, 1954, and professed her first vows on June 13, 1957. Sister Anne was a 1961 graduate of St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Louis University in 1968 and a master’s degree in health care administration from Sangamon State University in 1973.
Sister Anne served in nursing leadership in several Illinois hospitals and at St. Francis Convent. From 1969 to 1982, she was instrumental in planning and developing the open-heart surgery, intensive care coronary units, and cardiopulmonary units at HSHS St. John’s Hospital. For three months, beginning in January 1980, she served the Cambodian refugees in Thailand, establishing assessment clinics for feeding women, children, and malnourished adults.
Sister Anne was community services coordinator of Catholic Charities in Springfield, IL, from 1987 through 1999, and while there, she was named the Copley First Citizen in November of 1996. She also facilitated the building of a new structure for St. John’s Breadline, which was completed in 1994. In July 1999, she co-founded the San Damiano Mission in Kemondo, Bukoba, Tanzania, and served there until May 2017.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a brother, Ted A. Carlino of Riverton, IL, several cousins, and her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for more than 70 years.
Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, 2024. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Richard Chiola on Monday, September 9, at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel with burial in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery at St. Francis Convent.
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