Since 1980, St. Francis Day Care Center has provided a safe, faith-filled, and nurturing environment for young children. Operated by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, we partner with families to help each child grow in faith, character, and learning.
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George began our American Province over 100 years ago with many hardships and in poverty. In response to Father Dunne’s search for Sisters to staff and operate Newsboys Home in St. Louis (an institution for unwanted and neglected boys), our Sisters arrived on December 27, 1923 from Thuine, Germany.
Soon recognizing that they were not trained for this work, they began negotiations to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, Illinois. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner Franciscan house in the United States and renamed Nazareth Home to Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. By the turn of the century, this humble beginning, with five German Franciscan Sisters, would grow to 108 Sisters in fifteen houses in six states in America and over forty Sisters in twelve convents in Brazil.
Over 150 years since our founding in Germany, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George continue in the example of St. Francis, listening and responding to God’s call to rebuild His Church. In “looking on Him Whom they have pierced” (John 19:37), the Sisters bring the charism entrusted to them into the world by striving to make His merciful love visible. The Sisters make Christ’s merciful love known through their service to others in a variety of apostolic activities – healthcare, care of the elderly, education, day care, religious education, parish work, and social services.
In the spirit of Mother M. Anselma, the Sisters continue to seek to know God’s Will for them as they strive to serve His people.
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George first came to Alton, Illinois, in 1923 from their Motherhouse in Thuine, Germany, to serve in education and healthcare.
Over the decades, their ministry expanded to meet the needs of the community, growing from five German Sisters to more than 100 Sisters in convents across the United States.
In 1980, the Sisters opened St. Francis Day Care Center to provide loving care for children and vital support for working families.
Looking on Him Whom they have pierced, the Sisters embrace the charism entrusted to them and strive to make Christ’s merciful love visible through their service in many various areas: hospital work, care of the elderly, education, child care, religious education, parish ministry, and social services.
The American Province began in poverty with many hardships. In St. Louis, Father Dunne was looking for Sisters to staff and operate Newsboys Home, an institution for unwanted and neglected boys. The Sisters arrived on December 27, 1923 but soon realized that they did not have the training to do this work. The next year negotiations began for the Sisters to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, Illinois. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner Franciscan house in the United States, renamed Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. By the turn of the century, this humble beginning, with five German Franciscan Sisters, would grow to 108 Sisters in fifteen houses in six states in America and over forty Sisters in twelve convents in Brazil.
Now in the third millennium, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, like St. Francis, have listened and have heard God’s call to take an active part in rebuilding His Church. The Sisters, looking on Him Whom they have pierced, take the charism entrusted to them and strive to make His merciful love visible through their service to others in a variety of apostolic activities – hospital work, care of the elderly, education, day care, religious education, parish work, and social services. In the spirit of Mother M. Anselma, the Sisters continue to seek to know God’s Will for them as they strive to serve His people.
