Where we originate

Due to the social restructuring around the middle of the 19th century and the poor health conditions, poverty - and also the number of unprovided children - became greater and greater. The history of our religious community began ...

... in 1859, when three young women from Olpe, Wilhelmine Bonzel, Regina Löser and Klara Pfänder founded a religious community. Initially, motivated by the great need of the people, they committed themselves to unprovided children - soon affectionately called the "orphan sisters" by the population. It was important to them to improve care and education and to provide schooling especially for girls.

With the rapid growth of the young religious community, other tasks, such as home nursing, were added. Bishop Konrad Martin of Paderborn decreed the independence of the Olper monastery on July 20, 1863 and appointed Maria Theresia Bonzel as superior. Since then, July 20, 1863 is considered the founding day of the "Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration" and Mother Maria Theresia Bonzel their first Superior General.

As a result of the Kulturkampf in Prussia, the sisters were initially not allowed to carry out any educational tasks and were later forbidden to accept new members. Therefore, a request from the Bishop of Lafayette/Indiana was granted and the first sisters were sent to North America on November 25, 1875. There they took on the same tasks as in Germany and initially cared for orphans and the sick. From these beginnings, various health and educational institutions grew and two large provinces developed.

On February 6, 1905, Mother Maria Theresa died. About 1500 sisters lived in the religious community at that time, carried and motivated by their ideals: to glorify God and to adore him, in common and personal prayer and in service to others. Today, the sisters work in Germany, the USA and the Philippines in all areas of social and pastoral work: in hospitals, social stations, homes for the elderly, institutions for children and youth welfare, pastoral care, in schools and kindergartens and in various missionary tasks.

We live here and there in smaller and larger house communities. We continue to be an apostolically active religious community for which the contemplative element has a high value. Mother M. Theresia Bonzel explicitly placed the adoration of God at the center of daily life. She knew that it is actually contemplation that opens one's eyes to the world and motivates one to meaningful action.

Here you can find all information about the beatification: Link to the Archdiocese of Paderborn