Founders Day - June 5, 2023
Mother Francis Clare (Margaret Anna Cusack) passed away on June 5, 1899. Each year on this day, we celebrate her vision and legacy of collaboration with our other founders, Mother Evangelista (Honoria Gaffney) and Bishop Edward Gilpin Bagshawe.
In her autobiography The Nun of Kenmare, Margaret Anna Cuscak shared the story of receiving the approval of Pope Leo XIII for the new Congregation.
My audience [with Pope Leo XIII] was entirely private, as I did not require an interpreter. Mgr. Macchi brought in the whole set of my books to his holiness, who looked at them, I think somewhat surprised at the number. Some of them were duplicated, having been translated into German, French, and Italian. ...
His holiness specially commended the plan of my new order, and encouraged me in every way to continue writing. He gave his blessing to all the sisters present and to come, and to all those who would contribute to my work. I cannot forget his paternal and affectionate kindness, and the sympathy he expressed for the troubles I had gone through. My last audience was a public one, and at this the Holy Father noticed me specially, and spoke to those who were standing around, explaining to them in a few words that we were Sisters of Peace, and the object of our work.
2023 Founders Day message from the Congregation Leadership Team:
Unless the Lord God builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. - Psalm 127:1
Let us hold each other in prayer, rejoice with happy hearts, come together around festive tables to honor and acclaim again the strengths and the struggles of our early beginnings: the vision and passion for justice and peace of Mother Clare, the resilience and faith-filled strength of Mother Evangelista, the trust and confidence of Bishop Bagshawe—founders all—on whose shoulders we stand proudly, confidently, lovingly, humbly.
Remembering how we came to be is, however, not enough. The Call to be community for mission, inspired, driven by God’s invitation, compels us to be living witness in action to the slightly adapted words of the prophet Isaiah 52:7: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who care for creation, who resist all violence, who work for justice, who bring good tidings, who hold place at table for everyone, who proclaim salvation, who say to all in word and action “Our God reigns”.
Blessed be our continually unfolding future!
Visit the "Our Roots" section of our website to learn more about our founding story, including: