4 CORDECHO SPIRIT. MIND. BODY. In 1971, Sister Georgia Dunn, OSF wrote a history of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity entitled Towers of Montabaur. Her book opens with the words, “There is a chapter in the history of the United States that needs to be written. It is the story of one hundred sixty thousand nuns now alive and working, and their thousands of precursors in the last one hundred years who helped to establish a strong well instructed Catholic laity in the United States of America; who cheerfully left homes here and abroad; homes poor, homes middle class and homes affluent, to work in schools and hospitals…” For Western New York, history was written by the work of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity who arrived in Buffalo in 1874. Their story rapidly unfolded into a remarkable legacy of faith, education, and service, inspired by Franciscan values. On April 23, 1874, Mother Aloysia Lenders informed Sister Leonarda Hannappel that they, accompanied by Sister Veronica Conradi and Sister Felicitas Dues, would go on a mission trip to Buffalo, New York to oversee the educational needs of German-speaking immigrant children. Within 16 days, they set sail for North America. By September of that year, they were teaching immigrant students at St. Ann’s and St. Michael’s parishes. Within just three years of their arrival, Sister Leonarda became the principal of the newly built Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart on Washington Street. The Academy offered co-educational classes for grades K - 8 and a high school for girls. At a time when less than six percent of children continued their studies after eighth grade, the Sisters brought forth the bold vision to educate young women in spirit, mind, and body. With steadfast faith as their guide and a compelling commitment to service, the Sisters have made a deep imprint in Buffalo and beyond. For more information on the fascinating history of the Sisters of St. Francis and their 150 years of service in North America, consider the following resources: Leonarda’s Journey a short film produced by Sister Diane Giannada, available at stellaosf.org; Towers of Montabaur by Sister Georgia Dunn, OSF; Mother Magdalen Daemen and her Congregation 1835-1935 by Sister M. Ligouri, OSF. Coming to America! The house at 459 Ellicott Street served as the first convent home for the Sisters, purchased in the summer of 1874.
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