The 130th anniversary year of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ service in the United States drew to a close in October, and the sisters residing at Alvernia University’s Motherhouse held a weekend-long celebration Oct. 19-20. The celebration included a Mass of Thanksgiving presided by Bishop Alfred Schlert on Oct. 20 and attended by over 100 people.
The anniversary year began Oct. 4, 2023, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, and had as its theme “Radiating the Mystery of God’s Love,” commemorating the founding of the Bernardine order by Mother Veronica Grzedowska in 1894.
That year, four Bernardine Franciscan Sisters migrated from Poland to the United States with Mother Veronica as their leader.
“They were Polish immigrants coming to a new country to serve other immigrants, though they didn’t know the language,” said Sister Carol Ann Nawracaj, O.S.F., who professed perpetual vows in 1970 and graduated from Alvernia College the following year with a bachelor of arts degree elementary education.
The sisters established their first permanent home and ministry in Reading, where they built St. Francis Orphanage, which evolved into a grade school, then a high school, and eventually the first building that housed what’s now Alvernia University.
Today, over 200 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters continue to work in five states across the United States, throughout Brazil, in the African countries of Liberia and Mozambique, and in the Dominican Republic. The poor and those most in need form the heart of the sisters’ mission.
The Oct. 19 celebration included Mass presided by Father Ronald Bowman, Alvernia University chaplain, followed by the blessing of a maple tree by Father Bowman. The tree, selected as a sign of endurance and resiliency, resides at the entrance of the McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center, next to the motherhouse.
The celebration continued Oct. 20, which was also recognized by the Catholic Church as World Mission Sunday, a day of prayer and support for the Church’s mission efforts.
The day started with Mass with Bishop Schlert as celebrant. Mass opened with a procession of flags, representing the many countries in which the Bernardine Sisters have missions, with one of the sisters carrying each flag.
“The Diocese of Allentown has been blessed by the presence of the sisters,” said Bishop Schlert during Mass. “These women of faith have served through spreading of the Gospel and serving Christ.”
During the Liturgy of the Word, the first reading was read by Sister Roberta Ann Leskey, C.S.B.; soprano Johanna Wong Slusser served as cantor; and the second reading was read by SisterBernard Marie Magill, O.S.F.
The Gospel of Mark 10:35-45 was proclaimed by Father Bowman, in which Apostles James and John ask to sit at the left and right of Jesus in heaven.
In his homily Father Bowman said, “It’s the servants of the world who will be great and remembered after they’re gone,” in contrast to the ambition the sons of Zebedee exhibited in the Gospel reading.
After Mass, Bishop Schlert blessed the historic bell named Sancta Marie in the motherhouse’s Heritage Center.
The bell was purchased in 1898 by Mother Veronica, and used to call the Bernardine Sisters to Mass and prayer. The bell has had multiple locations during its history, but most recently, it resided in the bell tower of the motherhouse until March 2024. The Sancta Marie will now be on permanent display in the Heritage Center.
The weekend’s celebration concluded with a dinner for 100 people in the McGlinn Center dining room.
“I am very proud to be a Bernardine Franciscan Sister and part of their legacy,” said Sister Carol Ann. “We indeed stand on the shoulders of amazing women.”
To learn more about the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters of Reading, go to www.bfranciscan.org.
By Gia Myers.
