Prior to our familiar ATP (Around The Province newsletter to the Sisters) there were earlier publications which helped to keep the sisters in touch with one another. One of these was known as The Chronicle. 1924 marked the 50th anniversary of the sisters’ presence in North America. As we gather to celebrate our 150th anniversary, you may find it interesting to read that 100 years ago the April 1924 edition of The Chronicle published the following:
We are approaching the Jubilee Day with rapid strides. Perhaps the Sisters will enjoy following in thought our pioneer sisters in their movements 50 years ago.
May 15, 1874—Mother Aloysia, Sisters Veronica, Felicitas and Leonarda left the Mother House in Heythuizen. They drove away in a covered cart!
May 19—They set sail from Antwerp in a very poor vessel, the “Funch.”
June 5—They landed in New York. It was First Friday and the feast of St. Boniface. They were met by two of the dear Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis.
June 8—Mother Aloysia and Sister Leonarda arrived in Buffalo. They were met by Brother Schaefer, who drove them to St. Michael’s Rectory. They were then conducted to the Good Shepherd Convent where they were told to keep themselves hidden as their coming was not agreeable to everybody!
June 10 or 11—They went to visit the Bishop, who received them coldly and said: “Wir haben gäns genug Sisters.”
June 12—Feast of the Sacred Heart. In the night Sister Leonarda fell ill with gastric fever. During these dark days Father W. Becker was an angel of consolation to Mother Aloysia. As soon as Sister was able to travel, they went to Cincinnati to the Sisters of St. Francis again.
July 15—They returned to Buffalo. The Bishop gave his consent to their remaining in the diocese.
July—Mother Aloysia returned to Europe
July 28—They moved into the little Convent on Ellicott Street. They had been living in one room in St. Anne’s schoolhouse.
July 31—The three Pioneers received news that six more Sisters were on the way. Father Becker brought them a bottle of wine to celebrate the event.
Sept. 1—School opened at St. Michael’s—at noon the six new Sisters walked in! What joy! But they had to wait until after school to talk.
Oct. 4—Our Lord came to take up His abode in the little chapel on Ellicott Street. This was our first Tabernacle in America.
The first Sisters came to this country as follows:
1874
June 5—Sisters Veronica, Felicitas, Leonarda
August 30—Sisters Apollinaria, Lamberta, Lambertine, Crispine, Juliana, Prudentia
October 15—Mother Hieronyma, Sisters Kostka, Adelheid
December 15—Mother Euphrasia, Sisters Clotilde, Aquina, Franziska, Cypriana
1875
May—Mother Cecelia, Sisters Sophie, Beatrix, Casimir, Martha, Mother Lucy, Sisters Blasia, Callista
Sept.—Mother Gonzaga, Sisters Adelgonde, Pudentiana, Josina, Conradine, Bibiana
Nov.—Sisters Euphemia, Isabella, Alberta, Borromea, Marcelline, Cyrilla, Agnes, Ladislawa
1876
June—Sisters Leopoldine, Angeline, Macaria, Honoria, Huberta, and two Postulants who later became sisters Theresia and Hyacintha
These were the last Sisters sent by Mother Aloysia and, not many of them are still
with us (1924): only Sisters Euphrasia, Kostka, Isabella, Cypriana, Blasia, Martha, Josina, Albert, Huberta, Leopoldine, and Mother Lucy. We think they should have the lion’s share of the Jubilee Cake! But is there going to be a cake? and where? and when? and—the main thing, how large?
But we must not forget to mention the first Postulants, those brave children who
linked their fortunes with those of a very poor little community when that community had few friends. This is the order in which they came:
*Lena Fischer—Sister Ignatia, July 25, 1874
Ethelburga Hardy—Sister Rose, July 31, 1874
Mary Dorschel—Sister Clara, August 25, 1874
Victoria Orth—Sister Bonaventura, Sept. 8 (dismissed)
Victoria Hoesl—Sister Margaret, January 4, 1875
*Lena Lux—Sister Josepha, February 2, 1875
*Here the first and last of the first six Postulants are still with us. We think they ought to have the large crumbs of the already-mentioned Jubilee Cake—and also a dish of ICE CREAM.