Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity recently hosted the Conventual Franciscan Postulants and their director Brother Paschal Kolodziej. It was a time to get out our Community history and review our long time relationship with the friars.
On March 19, 1900 there was a movement to strengthen our ties with the Franciscan Order. Archbishop of Milwaukee, the Most Reverend Frederick Katzer, inaugurated the affiliation of our Congregation with the Franciscan Order of Minor Conventuals. This meant in addition to sharing in all the spiritual favors granted to the First and Second Orders, our Congregation would be under the Minister General of the Order of Friar Minor Conventuals and more directly under the jurisdiction of the Provincial of the Province of Syracuse, New York. The Provincial of the Friars had the right and duty to preside at the regular General Chapter and to conduct elections. Later this affiliation was changed so that we continued to participate in all the spiritual favors, but were not under the direct authority of the Friars. Needless to say, relationships in the Franciscan Family are ever cherished and not forgotten.
Sister Mariella Erdmann, our Postulant directress, received this message from the Conventual Franciscan Postulants on their return to St. Bonaventure Friary, Chicago, Illinois:
Thank you for such a wonderful and grace-filled overnight stay at the Sisters’ convent last week. Br. Paschal and all of us postulants that were able to make it are very grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality you and the Sisters showed us, as well as the fun times with Hilda and your novices. Please know of our prayers for you and your Community.
