Franciscan Sisters of Chicago News Articles
A New Design for Heritage Hall
On the first floor of Our Lady of Victory Convent is a room dedicated to the extensive history and legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago. This room is called Heritage Hall and it documents the start of the Congregation, the life of its foundress, Venerable Mary Theresa Dudzik, and pays tribute to all those who served as Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in the many ministries the Sisters sponsored for over 125 years. Click here to read article.
A Chicago Hero
Joe Malham, an artist-in-residence and iconographer at St. Gregory the Great Church in Chicago, was recently featured in Chicago Catholic for his beautiful art series entitled “Chicago Heroes.” The series focused on holy Catholics who ministered in the Archdiocese of Chicago and accomplished great things in their lifetimes. Click here to read article.
Laudato Si' Action Platform - On Care for Our Common Home
In 2015, Pope Francis issued his second encyclical to the world, entitled Laudato Si', on care for our common home. This encyclical is a direct appeal to citizens of Earth to begin a discussion about the future of our planet. The title is an Umbrian phrase which translates to "Praise be to you." It is taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun, a prayer the famous saint wrote in which he praises God for all of his creations and earthly aspects such as Brother Sun and Sister Moon and then reaffirms his ideology of rejecting materialism. Click here to read article.
An Interview with Regina Umanskiy
This past summer Regina Umanskiy was selected as President and CEO of Franciscan Ministries, replacing Judy Amiano, who retired earlier in the year. She recently sat down for an interview to discuss her background, her inspirations, and her new role at Franciscan Ministries. “The Sisters and I are honored to welcome Regina Umanskiy to lead our sponsored ministries,” said Sister M. Bernadette Bajuscik, General Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago. Click here to read article.
The Commissioning Ceremony - Regina Umanskiy
On Tuesday, September 20, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago held a Commissioning ceremony and celebration for Regina Umanskiy, who was recently hired as President and CEO of Franciscan Ministries. Regina recently succeeded Judy Amiano, who retired earlier this year. Click here to read article.
I was a Girl in Boys Town by Sister Kathleen Melia, OSF
Three colors come to mind when I think of my days as a child in the famous Boys Town, Nebraska: white, green, and brown, or more accurately, khaki. Pure white was the snow that visited us so often in fall, winter, and spring and rose in towering drifts as snowplows moved it off roads and sidewalks. Green was the vast expanse of grass just beyond the little apartment building where we lived. Khaki was the color of my Dad’s crispy-ironed uniform he wore to work every day as the chief engineer of Boys Town. My mother, father, little brother, and I took up residency in Boys Town in 1941. Click here to read article.
The First School - SS. Peter and Paul School, Spring Valley, Illinois
In 1901, the Reverend Andrew Drewnicki, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Spring Valley, Illinois, sent a request to the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Kunegunda (the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago’s original congregational name) to have Sisters staff and teach at his newly established school. Spring Valley was a growing coal mining and industrial town on the banks of the Illinois River and had experienced a rapid influx of Polish and Lithuanian immigrants to work there. Click here to read article.
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The History of Venerable Mary Theresa Dudzik’s Saintly Cause
Three colors come to mind when I think of my days as a child in the famous Boys Town, Nebraska: white, green, and brown, or more accurately, khaki. Pure white was the snow that visited us so often in fall, winter, and spring and rose in towering drifts as snowplows moved it off roads and sidewalks. Green was the vast expanse of grass just beyond the little apartment building where we lived. Khaki was the color of my Dad’s crispy-ironed uniform he wore to work every day as the chief engineer of Boys Town. My mother, father, little brother, and I took up residency in Boys Town in 1941.
In the Company of Saints
In 1958, a priest by the name of the Reverend Henry M. Malak visited the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago's Motherhouse in Lemont, Illinois, to give a retreat to the members of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Society. He was then asked by the Sisters to lead a series of future retreats and become a retreat master for them. Father Malak agreed to serve as a retreat master and then asked the Sisters for background and historical information on their congregation to learn more about them. He was given a copy of The Chronicle by Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik, the journal writings of their foundress. Click here to read article.
Sister Joseph Marie Zenda: Bloom Where You are Planted
Sister, teacher, principal, General Minister and Chief Executive Officer, Sister Joseph Marie Zenda has served in many different roles in her time as both a Franciscan Sister of Chicago and a leader with Franciscan Ministries. Click here to read article.
The FSC Peace Pole
The war between the countries of Ukraine and Russia that unfolded this year has been a heartbreaking and devastating conflict as so many people in these countries continue to suffer the hardships of this war. We continue to pray for an end to this conflict and hope for a peaceful resolution. At the entrance of Our Lady of Victory Convent in Lemont stands the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago (FSC) peace pole. This peace pole serves as a monument to inspire others to spread the message and prayer of world peace with the hope that one day we may achieve a better world. Click here to read article.
A Statue Connecting Our Foundresses
The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago and the Sisters of St. Casimir have had a bond over the years. Recently it was discovered that bond goes back even further to the beginning days of the formation of their congregations. The story came to light with a beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Click here to read article.