In 1873, three courageous women believed they were called by God to found a Franciscan religious order that would care for people in need. They left their ten-member community, ministering at an orphanage in Schwarzach, Germany, and sailed to America. These three young women, Emma Franziska (Mother Alexia) Hoell, Paulina (Mother Alfons) Schmid, and Helena (Sister Clara) Seiter, settled in New Cassel, now Campbellsport, Wisconsin. They had a dream of helping other immigrants and of establishing a large community that would meet the needs of the Church. On April 28, 1874, the School Sisters of St. Francis community was founded. Our sisters began ministering in parish schools and responding to the call of the Church in the United States.

Many women joined the School Sisters in the next decade and our community expanded beyond our foundresses' most prayer-filled dreams. By 1887, our sisters staffed schools in five states. A new motherhouse, St. Joseph Convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was built and dedicated. St. Joseph's Normal School, the precursor of Alverno College, was established within the motherhouse to educate our sisters. In 1893, health services were added to our ministry with the opening of Sacred Heart Sanitarium adjacent to the motherhouse. The sanitarium was the first of its kind in Milwaukee and became well-known throughout the United States and Europe.

Despite financial and political difficulties, Mother Alexia set out for Europe in 1895. The School Sister emphasis in America was on parish school education. After surveying the needs of people in Europe, Mother Alexia devoted community energies to a variety of works such as ministering in: sanitariums; kindergartens; homes for orphans and troubled youth; and homes for young women seeking higher education. Sisters also conducted pastoral work and offered care for sick and elderly people, as well as serving in numerous other ministries.

In Europe our sisters served chiefly in Germany and Switzerland. Mother Alexia petitioned Rome for provincial status in 1907 and her request was granted by Pope Pius X. As the congregation grew and met numerous challenges, a favorite saying of hers was, "Impossible is a word I do not know." Having founded and guided the community from 1874 to 1907, Mother Alexia resigned her position as Mother General to become Superior of the European Province until her death in 1918.

Mother Alfons Schmid, co-foundress, became Mother General in 1907, and continued to promote the growth of our community in the United States. Because of her great love for the arts, our community has a strong tradition in music and art. School Sisters have merited distinction as artists, composers, music educators and parish musicians. We have provided leadership in the field of liturgical music throughout the United States. The initiative of Mother Alfons in fostering the arts shaped a legacy that continues today. Her dream of building a chapel of incomparable beauty was realized in 1917 with the dedication of the St. Joseph Convent Chapel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Under Mother Alfons' direction, the School Sisters opened these institutions: Alvernia High School in Chicago and Madonna High School in Aurora, Illinois; St. Mary's Hill Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Seraphic Press and St. Joseph Convent Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sharing Christ's mission through education, health care, social work and pastoral ministry became a central focus for our congregation. Mother Alfons died in 1929 and is buried near her beloved chapel at our motherhouse.

Other leaders of our congregation followed these courageous foundresses as our outreach became more international. In the following decades expansion included a school in China, two missions in India, several hospitals in Germany and an orphanage in Honduras. In the United States, outreach included: Alverno College of Liberal Arts and Sacred Heart School of Practical Nursing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; a hospital in Waupun, Wisconsin; St. Joseph High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Ryan High School in Omaha, Nebraska; and service in multicultural parishes and neighborhoods.

A province developed in Latin America with missions in Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Mexico. It was named the "Union of Latin American Franciscans" or ULAF. This province emphasizes pastoral work, education, health care, ministry to indigenous people, and service in the Guatemalan orphanage founded by our sisters.

The events and direction of The Second Vatican Council in Rome during the 1960s mandated religious congregations to renew themselves and follow more faithfully the charism of their founders. The School Sisters responded whole-heartedly. The Constitutions and Rule of Life were revised to become RESPONSE IN FAITH. New lifestyles and ministries reflected a more contemporary understanding of Gospel life and service. Varied ministries developed in response to new needs in pastoral outreach, social justice, education and health care. We became more aware of our roots in the Franciscan values of non-violence, mutuality, hospitality, and in a spirituality that balances activity and prayer.

Associate Relationship began in 1972. Associates include men and women of various ages, cultures and denominations, who join us in a common commitment to the Gospel and to the mission of the Church. There are more than 130 associates in our provinces.

In 1980, several provinces were united into one United States Province. Health care and educational institutions became part of the new Institutional Sponsorship Services. Our sisters continued their valuable outreach in the fields of education, health care, pastoral ministry, human services and the fine arts.

Two provinces began in India. In 1996, St. Francis Province based in Bhopal, was established and the Assisi Province based in Kerala, was established in 2000. Each province in India has close to 100 members today. Our mission, then and now, is to serve the poorest of the poor as we carry out our ministries in villages, dispensaries, schools and hostels for girls and women.

Today we serve in ten countries and our membership in five provinces stands at over 1,100 sisters. Our ministries, past and present, are rooted in Christian and Franciscan values. School Sisters of St. Francis are alive with the call of the Gospel, uniting with others to build a just and peaceful world!