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National Catholic Schools Week was established in 1974 as a celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January every year and is observed throughout the week. This year National Catholic Schools Week begins on January 29 and ends February 4.  In observance of this special week, we are paying tribute to all the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago who served in the ministry of education. 

The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago have a long history in the field of education. Education was one of the first ministries the Sister served in, starting from the very beginning years of their Congregation.  In 1904, the Sisters served at their first school, SS. Peter and Paul School in Spring Valley, Illinois.  Over the years the Sisters would teach or administer at many elementary schools, three high schools, and junior colleges across various states including Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Texas and Alabama.  They also established, operated and taught at Madonna High School in Chicago from 1949 to 2001. We thank our Sisters who served tirelessly in the field of education.  Please enjoy the gallery of photos below highlighting many Sisters who taught over the years.

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A classroom photo at SS. Peter and Paul School in Spring Valley, Illinois, in 1904.  This is the first school the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago served in at the start of their Congregation.  Read this article here 

Illinois
SS Peter and Paul School, Spring Velley
St. Roch, Lasalle
St. Casimir, Streator
St. Mary of Czetochowa, Madison

St. Adalbert, East St Louis
St. Pancratius, Chicago
St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr, Posen
St. Florian, (Hegewisch) Chicago
St. Louise de Marillac, La Grange Park
St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, Chicago
Five Holy Martyrs, Chicago

Indiana
Assumption, New Chicago
St John Cantius, East Chicago
St Hedwig, Gary
St Joseph, Calumet
Blessed Sacrament, Gary
Sacred Heart, Gary
Sacred Heart, LaPorte
St Adalbert, Whiting
St Mary,  Hammond

Ohio
Sacred Heart, Cleveland
St Anthony of Padua, Parma
St Casimir, Cleveland
St Leo The Great, Cleveland
St John the Baptist, Campbell
St Stanislaus Kostka, Youngstown
St Joeseph the Provider, Campbell
SS Philip and James, Cleveland

North Dakota
South Heart Public School, South Heart

Missouri
St. Casimir, St. Louis
St. Stanislaus Kostka School, St. Louis

Pennsylvania

Assumption BVM, Conemaugh
St Aldabert, Farrell 
St Casimir, Johnstown
St Michael, Glen Campbell
St Peter and Paul, Arcadia

A list of current Sisters who served in education

Sr. M. Bernadette Bajuscik, Sr. M. Joella Bielinski. Sr. Diane Marie Collins. Sr. M. Helene Galuszka, Sr. Jean Therese Jarosz
Sr. Doloria Kosiek, Sr. M. Colette Kwieczka, Sr. M. Francine Labus, Sr. Emilie Marie Lesniak, Sr. Kathleen Melia, Sr. M. Francis Clare Radke
Sr. Lois Marie Rossi, Sr. Monica Sendlosky, Sr. Jeanne Marie Toriskie, Sr. M. Celeste Walkowski, and Sr. Joseph Marie Zenda

A List of schools where the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago served:

Alabama
St. Peter Claver, Mobile

 

Texas

Holy Trinity, Falls City

Wisconsin

St Joseph, Oskosh

St Michael, Berlin



 

Photo Gallery - Franciscan Sisters of Chicago in Education 
 

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Group shot of children and unnamed Sister at St. Roch School in LaSalle, Illinois (1911).

Sr. Martha Bywalec with students at St. Florian (1914).

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The first Madonna High School in Chicago.

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The second Madonna High School in Chicago.

A May Crowning ceremony at Madonna High School (1950's).

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Students with an unidentified Sister at
Blessed Sacrament School in Gary, Indiana. 

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Sister Placidia with a young student at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School in Chicago.

Three unnamed Sisters within a large group of children in front of the original St. Mary of Czestochowa School in Hammond, Indiana.

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Sister Dolorine with students at St. Leo the Great
in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Sister M. Alvernia with children at a fair at Madonna High School in Chicago

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Sister Anne Marie  playing baseball with boys at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School in Chicago.

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Sr. Annuncia with students at St. Joseph the Provider, Campbell, Ohio.

Sr. M. Francesca giving a Fluto-phone lesson at St. Joseph School in Campbell, Ohio.

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Sr. Carole Marie at Madonna High School in Chicago.

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Sr. Hugoline at Madonna High School in Chicago.

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Sr. Joseph Marie at Madonna High School in Chicago.

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Sr.Diane Marie at Madonna High School in Chicago.

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Sister Roberta with students at St. Pancratius in Chicago

The first faculty at Madonna High School, 1952:  (Seated) Srs. Alvernia, Seraphinia, Maxentia, and Therese Grajek. (Row 2) Srs. Roseann, Marinella, Sponsa, Tarcisia, Leontia. (Standing) Srs. Kingnetta, Maristella, Alberta and Dorothy.

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Sister Claudiana with students at SS. Philip and James, Cleveland, Ohio.

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Sister Lillian with students at St. Casimir,
Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

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Sr. Amata and children at Christmas at St. Casimir in
Cleveland, Ohio.

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Sr. Eleanor Plocki with students at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School.
 

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Sister Jeanne Marie and Sister Doloria with Madonna Foundation scholars.

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Sister Helene and Sister Francis Clare with Madonna Foundation scholars.

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