One by one they came, called to something greater than themselves. Women came from farming communities and big cities. Some were from large families and others were an only child. They were young adults still in school and they were women who had already been in the workforce. For 155 years these women came – one by one – adding to the Congregation’s history. They did so for one reason. When God called them to religious life, they each said “yes.”
Had one woman who said “yes” not made her way to Joliet in 1863, the Joliet Franciscan Sisters might not exist today. That woman is Maria Catherine Moes, our Mother Alfred Moes and through her, our history began.
About the Archive
The goal of the Joliet Franciscans Archive is to collect, preserve and make available the documents, photographs, works, artifacts, and ephemera related to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. These artifacts pertain to the life, work and missions of the Sisters, including their work in schools, social services and senior care. These records reflect the development of the congregation, the conduct of its affairs and the personal lives of its members. The goal of the Archive is to preserve these records and make them accessible to family members and interested parties related to the Sisters’ work unless there are restrictions placed on the records for reasons of privacy or sensitivity of the records.
If you have further questions about the Archive, please contact our Archivist, Elizabeth Piskorski at episkorski@jolietfranciscans.org.
