Archdiocesan Religious Vocations


FFSPA History: In 1849 eleven lay women and men and two Catholic priests, members of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis of Assisi, arrived in Milwaukee from southern Germany. They had been invited by Bishop Martin Henni to come to America. The six women wished to begin a religious community, educate the children of the German immigrants and involve themselves in works of the Gospel as directed by the Bishop. In 1854 Bishop Henni decided to build a seminary. The Sisters agreed to assist with the building of the seminary and to do the domestic work for the faculty and seminarians. This ministry, however, brought hardships: overwork, excessive fatigue, and lack of adequate time to pray. Eventually these privations and trials discouraged the six foundresses, and they decided to leave their young community. They young community of eleven continued to develop. The motherhouse was transferred to Jefferson, Wisconsin. In 1871, the community transferred the Motherhouse to La Crosse, WI. This was done at the invitation of Bishop Michael Heiss, the first bishop of this newly created diocese, former rector of the seminary in Milwaukee, and author of the first written rule of the congregation. Two years later, efforts to resolve the friction regarding some aspects of the Sisters' ministry in the seminary came to an impasse. Thirty-six sisters accepted Bishop Henni's offer to dispense them from obedience to Mother Antonia. They elected a new superior and their vows were transferred to her. The new community was known as the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi with St. Francis Convent, Milwaukee, as their Motherhouse. The other ninety or so Sisters became known at the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration with St. Rose Convent as their Motherhouse in La Crosse. FSPA has two sisters ministering in the Archdiocese and an account of each is below. Sister Edna Bube, Sante Fe, NM After serving as a homemaker in convent for three years and an elementary teacher for eighteen years, Sister Edna worked as a nurse aide for a year. She became involved in parish ministry in Pueblo, CO, from 1973-1980. Desiring to work with the Mexican-Americans, she took a year to study Spanish in Mexico and returned to Phoenix for a year. In 1982 Sister Edna took up residence in Sante Fe, NM, where she has ministered with the elderly/handicapped, as a grief counselor at Berardinelli Mortuary (1988-1992), worked for Dr. Himmell as nurse, medical assistant at St. Vincent Hospital, records facilitator at the cancer clinic, and medical receptionist for Dr. D. William Brown from 1997 until she retired in 2000. She continues to volunteer at the Cancer Treatment Center and Same Day Surgery Unit at St. Vincent Hospital. Sister Telma Gomez, Chimayo, NM Sister Telma Gomez began her ministry to the Mexican Americans at Holy Family Parish, Chimayo, in 1989. From 1996-1998 to worked in parish ministry at St. Patrick/St. Francis Parishes, Walla Walla, WA. In 1998 she returned to Chimayo as a Sanctuario Assistant at the shrine, where she continues to the present day. More information at www.fspa.org

FFSPA History:
In 1849 eleven lay women and men and two Catholic priests, members of the Third Order Secular of St. Francis of Assisi, arrived in Milwaukee from southern Germany. They had been invited by Bishop Martin Henni to come to America. The six women wished to begin a religious community, educate the children of the German immigrants and involve themselves in works of the Gospel as directed by the Bishop.

In 1854 Bishop Henni decided to build a seminary. The Sisters agreed to assist with the building of the seminary and to do the domestic work for the faculty and seminarians. This ministry, however, brought hardships: overwork, excessive fatigue, and lack of adequate time to pray. Eventually these privations and trials discouraged the six foundresses, and they decided to leave their young community. They young community of eleven continued to develop. The motherhouse was transferred to Jefferson, Wisconsin. In 1871, the community transferred the Motherhouse to La Crosse, WI. This was done at the invitation of Bishop Michael Heiss, the first bishop of this newly created diocese, former rector of the seminary in Milwaukee, and author of the first written rule of the congregation.

Two years later, efforts to resolve the friction regarding some aspects of the Sisters' ministry in the seminary came to an impasse. Thirty-six sisters accepted Bishop Henni's offer to dispense them from obedience to Mother Antonia. They elected a new superior and their vows were transferred to her. The new community was known as the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi with St. Francis Convent, Milwaukee, as their Motherhouse. The other ninety or so Sisters became known at the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration with St. Rose Convent as their Motherhouse in La Crosse.

FSPA has two sisters ministering in the Archdiocese and an account of each is below.

Sister Edna Bube, Sante Fe, NM
After serving as a homemaker in convent for three years and an elementary teacher for eighteen years, Sister Edna worked as a nurse aide for a year. She became involved in parish ministry in Pueblo, CO, from 1973-1980. Desiring to work with the Mexican-Americans, she took a year to study Spanish in Mexico and returned to Phoenix for a year. In 1982 Sister Edna took up residence in Sante Fe, NM, where she has ministered with the elderly/handicapped, as a grief counselor at Berardinelli Mortuary (1988-1992), worked for Dr. Himmell as nurse, medical assistant at St. Vincent Hospital, records facilitator at the cancer clinic, and medical receptionist for Dr. D. William Brown from 1997 until she retired in 2000. She continues to volunteer at the Cancer Treatment Center and Same Day Surgery Unit at St. Vincent Hospital.

Sister Telma Gomez, Chimayo, NM
Sister Telma Gomez began her ministry to the Mexican Americans at Holy Family Parish, Chimayo, in 1989. From 1996-1998 to worked in parish ministry at St. Patrick/St. Francis Parishes, Walla Walla, WA. In 1998 she returned to Chimayo as a Sanctuario Assistant at the shrine, where she continues to the present day.

More information at www.fspa.org