The Maria Medingen Province, Germany:
Main apostolates: health care and education
This province was established in 1973 from out of the original German
province, which dates back to the year 1241. It has the distinction of having
within its borders and jurisdiction our original Motherhouse, the very home and
heart of our heritage as Dillingen Franciscans. Its provincial house is a former
Dominican cloister in which our Sisters have lived since 1843.
400 Sisters |
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The Bamberg Province, Germany:
Main apostolates: education, care of the elderly,
children's homes, and family retreats
This Province was also established in 1973, and is also part of the original German province. The Sisters in this province are
very concerned for the strengthening of the family so as to strengthen society. They work to support programs for the poorest
and weakest, as well as continuing to teach in large schools.
240 Sisters |
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The Regens-Wagner Province, Germany:
Main apostolates: service of the handicapped
Also established in 1973, and also part of the original German province, this province was formed from the special apostolate
of the Dillingen Franciscans to the handicapped. Since the 1850's our Sisters have been working and living with these
special people. Today this province includes 10 large institutes educating and housing
over 5000 handicapped persons and having 3500 lay employees.
200 Sisters |
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The Hankinson Province, USA:
Main apostolates: healthcare and education
Arriving in the US in 1913, the Sisters settled in Hankinson in 1928. In 1947 we were established as the
"North American Province of the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen". After decades of working mostly in the common apostolates
of teaching and nursing, the Sisters are now investing a good deal of energy in pastoral education, pro-life works, child-care
and retreat works for the laity. Because prayer is the source and guide of all our activities,
on August 24, 2000, an additional half day of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
each week was initiated for Thursdays at the Provincial Motherhouse.
We adore you, O Lord Jesus Christ, and we praise you...
40 Sisters
|
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The Areia Province, North Brazil:
Main apostolates: education and building
Christian communities among the very poor
When the Sisters in Germany were forbidden to teach in the schools of Nazi-Germany, a number of them emigrated to Brazil.
In 1964 this province was split into two because of the great distances between the missions in the north and the south.
The Sisters here are known in our congregation for their work in "building Christian communities"
among the poorest of the poor in remote areas of the Amazon region.
65 Sisters
|
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The Caxias Province, South Brazil:
Main apostolates: education, care of the poor
Established as a province in 1956. A large part of the work in this province is now
caring for "street children" (pictured at right). More recently, in 1998, a large home for
the abandoned elderly was begun. The Caxias (ka-shé-us) Province is located near
Rio de Janeiro where extreme wealth and extreme poverty exist side-by-side.
70 Sisters |
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The Indian Province:
Main apostolates: healthcare and education
As the youngest (established in August of 1999) and most rapidly growing province in our Congregation, this province has the
distinction of existing in a society where proselytizing is strictly forbidden, and where women are not readily accepted as business
leaders or property owners. Many of the persons they serve are Hindus and Moslems, therefore their main way of spreading the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is by their presence and charity. As our holy father Saint Francis said:
Preach the Gospel at all times, and whenever necessary use words.
60 Sisters, 8 Novices, 8 Postulants
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