| 1378:
Beginnings in
Switzerland
— The Sisters
of St. Francis
of the Holy Eucharist
have a long and
rich history
in the Church.
Their humble
beginnings were
in the Black
Forest of Bavaria
where three women
impelled by the
love of Christ
united together
to live a life
of prayer and
penance. This
little band was
recognized by
the Church and
accepted the
Rule of the Third
Order Regular
of St. Francis
in 1378, just
152 years after
the death of
St. Francis.
St. Ottilia,
their founding
Convent in Switzerland,
has been a place
of uninterrupted
Perpetual Adoration
for nearly 600
years.
 The
Sisters often
faced the threat
of political
suppression.
At one point
their poverty
so resembled
that of St.
Francis that
those wishing
to overtake
them found
“nothing worth
taking” and
so the little
band of Sisters
was left in
peace. Truly
they were a
living example
of possessing “only
the riches
of Jesus Christ”.
1892:
Arrival in
United States — Fearing
further political
oppression,
five Sisters
led by Mother
John Hau were
sent to the
United States
in 1892 to
establish a
place of refuge
for the congregation.
Facing a new
country and
language, and
grappling with
the need to
provide for
the Sisters,
the house in
the United
States was
established
not as a cloister
but as an active
community.
Apostolate
begins — Though
not contemplatives,
the Sisters
continued their
tradition of
daily holy
hours before
the Blessed
Sacrament.
Already considering
involvement
in elementary
education,
the Sisters
recognized
the prompting
of the Holy
Spirit when
a railroader
whose wife
had just died
appeared at
the door of
the convent
with his three
small children.
Speaking to
Mother John
he said, “Now
you must be
their mama”. Thus
began St. Francis
Orphanage and
the tradition
of total dependence
on the providence
of God to lead
and provide.
 1982:
Move to Independence,
MO — The
Sisters continued
to listen to
the Spirit's
promptings
in their lives.
In the 1970’s
they opened
missions in
Mexico and
in Brazil in
response to
the appeal
of Pope Paul
VI to religious
communities
to send 10%
of their members
to the missions.
In 1982 they
moved to their
current motherhouse
in Independence,
Missouri, continued
their commitment
to education,
opened the
Franciscan
Prayer Center,
withdrew from
the missions
and established
the Franciscan
Mission Warehouse
to provide
for the needs
of the poor
throughout
the world.
Through it
all, the Sisters’
love for Jesus
in the Blessed
Sacrament has
remained constant.
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