“To live is to be slowly born.”


Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Like Germany, Like America

Some of the new foundations in Covington corresponded to the beginnings of the congregation in Coesfeld. Besides teaching, sisters took over orphanages in Cold Spring, Kentucky and in Bond Hill, Ohio. In 1877 the sisters were introduced to St. Aloysius Orphanage. The speaker on this occasion “thanked” his Excellency Count Bismarck whose expulsion of the […]

A New Postulant

Just two years after the arrival of the first sisters from Germany, the first postulant from America, Katherine Franzioni, asked to enter the congregation and did so on November 15, 1876. In April, 1877, she and two other postulants received the religious habit from the hands of Bishop August Többe. As part of the investment […]

Sister Mary Modesta, A Burdened Superior in Kentucky

Without experience in architecture, Sister Modesta had to erect a building. The project began in the autumn of 1875, and in July 1876 the chapel of the four-story building was completed and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. While the Sisters were happy to have a center, a heavy burden of debt lay on Sister Modesta’s […]

Covington, Kentucky: Temporary Center of the Congregation

Ministry in Covington began on August 15, 1874, by Sister Mary Odilia and Sr. M. Ignatia. At first, life was very difficult, and these two sisters had many sacrifices to make. First, there was no convent; consequently, they stayed at a Franciscan convent. In addition, the way from the school on Sixth Street to the […]

Who Needs Money When the Sisters Have Hearts of Gold?

Father Reichlin, a pastor in Cleveland, had a very poor church and school with mounting debts. Worried about the sisters’ income, he was relieved at the sisters’ modest expectations, and he agreed joyfully to have two sisters take over the school until a third could come from Germany. Sisters began to teach in Cleveland in […]

Finally in Cleveland, Ohio – July 7, 1874

An 18-hour train trip brought the sisters to Union Depot close to Lake Erie. Father Westerholt, pastor of St Peter Parish in Cleveland, met them. A half hour later they arrived by two carriages at the parish where ladies of the parish had supper ready. When the ladies left, the sisters prayed prayers of gratitude. […]

Arriving in America — 1874

The Sisters who came to America settled in Ohio (in Cleveland and Delphos) and in Covington, Kentucky. They are still there today. How did the Sisters get to these states? The pastor of the Mother of God Parish in Covington went to Europe in 1870. His bishop, August Többe, asked the pastor to visit Goch […]

The Personality and Spirituality of the First Sister of Notre Dame

Although Sister Maria Aloysia Wolbring spoke little about herself, there is much evidence of how other sisters treasured her. Interviews and letters told of her solicitude for the sisters’ well-being. Were they warm enough? Would they appreciate a surprise? Who could use some encouragement? Is anyone overburdened? An interview with a sister living with the […]