History of Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (SSFPA)

He began his preaching everywhere with a salutation that he said God had revealed to him, “The peace of God be with you!”

This Order of religious women was founded in 1863, in Olpe, Germany, by Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel under the Rule of St. Francis and was originally called the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of Perpetual Adoration. Due to ensuing restrictive German laws against the clergy and religious communities, the Order decided to answer a call for assistance from Bishop Joseph Dwenger of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In response, six Sisters were sent to the United States and arrived in Lafayette, Indiana, in December, 1875. A small house was placed at their disposal; shortly, two lots were donated by a benefactor and on these the first buildings of the present St. Elizabeth Hospital were built. Within two years the Sisters were teaching at nearby St. Boniface School; thus, began their expansive ministries in healthcare and education in the Midwest. In the next 25 years hospitals and schools were begun in various cities in Indiana, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. By the end of the century with the rapid growth of the Community and with increased demand for more educational opportunities and healthcare services, the Sisters taught in 23 schools and had founded 19 hospitals. Additionally, the Congregation was divided into two provinces, Sacred Heart Province in Germany and Immaculate Heart of Mary Province in the United States. The first part of the 1900’s saw a spread into several other states, i.e. New Mexico, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Michigan as well as the establishment of orphanages and homes as new social problems presented themselves. In 1932, the Congregation received Papal approbation from Pope Pius XI. In the following year a new Western Province, St. Joseph, was begun in Denver, Colorado. As the number of Sisters in the Community, as well as the services provided at the Lafayette location grew, it became necessary to consider a different site for the motherhouse and Eastern Province. At the urging of Bishop John Noll, a home and surrounding land was purchased in Mishawaka, Indiana and in 1943 the relocation of the provincial motherhouse was made. Now referred to as "Mount Alverno" it became the site of the provincial administration, the house of formation, the provincial motherhouse and an infirmary. The same year also witnessed the move of St. Francis College (now University of St. Francis) from the former provincial location to Fort Wayne, Indiana. In response to calls for assistance, the first foreign mission was established in the Philippines by the Eastern Province in 1962. Later this would also become a province. Similar overseas activity occurred in Honduras from 1978 to 1995. In 1974, The Sisters of the Eastern Province decided to incorporate its healthcare ministry under civil law and named the new entity the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.(SSFHS) All its related healthcare activities were then consolidated under this corporation with its separate board and management staff. SSFHS works to strengthen the Catholic healthcare presence by providing a broad, coordinated continuum of healthcare services with an emphasis on improving the health of persons and communities. Developing creative structures for healthcare delivery Being advocates for those in need Identifying and developing Sisters and laity for Franciscan leadership In 1986, the corporate offices were moved to their current location on the Provincialate grounds in Mishawaka, Indiana.