During the recent Interprovincial Prayer (May 6), S. Maria Elena Martinez shared about the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the coming of the first sisters to Sacramento, CA. She spoke of the six who braved the long train trip from Buffalo and expressed gratitude for them and all that sprang from their first ministry in 1901. From the Archives this month presents some additional information about the first foray of our sisters into the “Far West.” This information is taken from S. Liguori Mason’s Manuscript History of the North American Mission.
In 1900, Mother Cecilia Steffen received an urgent invitation from Rev. Father Godfrey Holters, O.F.M. to take charge of the St. Francis parochial school newly erected in Sacramento. Father Godfrey remarked that this foundation would “open up vast possibilities for zealous workers in the vineyard of the Lord:”—a statement which the lapse of years has verified.
Mother Cecilia wrote to Mother Camilla, the general superior, and soon received permission to assign sisters for this new undertaking. They were Mother Bertha Gores and Sisters Pacifica Krischel, Henrietta Lakas, Aquinas Miller, Aloysiana Schmidt, and Clement Finkel. As Mother Cecilia, herself, was not well enough to accompany them, she sent Sister Leonarda Hannappel in her stead. Mother Leopoldine Serries, superior at St. Francis Mission went with her as companion for the return trip.
In those days, the trip to that part of the States seemed akin to a journey overseas. The religious who had been selected for this foundation bade farewell to their friends with hardly a thought of ever returning from the land of promise to which they were bound. It may be that the great success which attended the Sisters’ early efforts in the sunny State was partly, if not wholly due to the spirit of sacrifice with which they undertook the mission.
In her letter to Mother Cecilia dated Sacramento, August 25, 1901, Sister Leonarda described their train trip, their arrival in Sacramento, and the welcome they received. Only the beginning of that report is reproduced here, but she details quite the adventure so more of the letter will be shared in the next ATP issue.
From the land of sunshine and flowers and fruit, from the city of the Blessed Sacrament, and from St. Anthony’s little convent I greet you in the name of the small caravan which I was sent to conduct hither. Our journey occupied five nights and four days. (They) arrived at 11:00 at the Convent of the Sisters of St. Francis, Chicago. Here they rested, then went on that night to Omaha where they were very kindly received by the Sisters of Mercy. Here we (S. Leonarda and M. Leopoldine) joined them. When we went to the railway station to continue our journey, we were assigned to a tourists’ car. We settled down as you do on board a steamer, with the knowledge that we would have to remain there for a few days. As no dining-car was attached to the train, we were glad that Mother Leopoldine had thought of bringing a little spirit-lamp and a coffee pot. Now whenever the train stopped for any length of time, those travelers who had any vessel with them, would alight to procure coffee or tea. I enjoyed doing this too.
…To Be Continued…