Our Catleolic Heritage in T ezas
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instrumental in having children and adults baptized, marriages validated, and fallen-away Catholics reclaimed. 123 Felician Sisters, Order of St. Francis, 1932. This Congregation, the largest branch of Franciscan Sisters in the United States, began their labors in this country in 1874. They came from their Motherhouse in Cracow, Poland, founded in 1855 and established their provincial head- quarters in Felonia, near Stevens Point, Wisconsin.JU At the invitation of Reverend I. J. Szymanski, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Bremond, Texas, five Felician Sisters came to Texas in August, 1932. They were Sisters M. Genevieve, first superior and principal, M. Raymond, M. Kinga, M. Laudetta, and M. Valente. They took charge of the parish school that year and thus initiated their fruitful labors in the State. Two years later, in 1934, Sisters M. Alice, superior, M. Dukissima, and M. Gemma went to Cestohowa, Texas, at the invitation of the Rev- erend S. Przyborowski, pastor of St. Mary's Church, where their efforts have met with signal success. In 1935, at the invitation of Reverend James Marsellier, pastor of the Blessed Sacrament parish in Poth, Texas, three sisters were sent to take charge of the parish school. For eight years they worked faithfully until the school was destroyed by fire in 1943. Four Sisters: M. Polycarpa, M. Dukena, M. Honoria, and M. Annetta, went also to Yorktown, Texas, in 1935, in answer to the invitation of Reverend P. A. Wojtonic, the pastor. Sisters M. Hilaria, M. Anama, M. Pauletta, and M. Fields went to Hedwig, Texas, to take over the parish school of the Annunciation. They were enthusiastically welcomed by Reverend W. J. Kleseck, the pastor of Annunciation Church. In 1946, according to the invitation of Reverend Ed. J. Dworaczyk, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Panna Maria, Texas, Sisters M. Alexis, M. Cajetan, and M. Henrietta took charge of the parish school. Besides the educational work in these schools, the Felician Sisters staff the Yorktown Memorial Hospital, which opened in 1951. Nine Sisters act as heads of the different hospital departments.us Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate, 1932. They came to Amarillo on August 14, 1932, at the invitation of Bishop R. A. Gerken, who u•From a brief summary sent to the Author by Mother Cecilia, the Superior Gen- eral, dated Huntington, Indiana, July 5, 1951. lUDehey, o-j. cit., 448. ussummary based on information furnished to the Author by Sister M. Maximina, Fel. A.S.F., Superior.
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