Sisters of St. Francis Celebrate Decades of Service

and Remember the Legacy of Sister Monica Witte

posted June 28, 2014

Today, the Midwestern Province of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity (Sisters of St. Francis) celebrate 75 years of responding to the needs of children and the poor—a mission that has always been at the heart of their ministries worldwide—while reflecting on the life and legacy of Sister Monica Witte, OSF who spent much of her life in service of Lakota students at Red Cloud Indian School.

In 1874, Mother Aloysia Lenders and three companions arrived in New York City from Germany at the request of the Jesuits of St. Michael's parish in Buffalo, NY, which began a partnership between the Sisters and the Jesuits that exists to this day.

The Sisters of St. Francis joined the Jesuits in 1886 and again in 1888 to establish missions on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations in South Dakota which ultimately led to the creation of the St. Francis and Red Cloud Indian Schools, respectively.

In 1939, with the growth and success of the congregation, three distinct provinces were established with headquarters at Stella Niagara, NY, for the Eastern Province; Redwood City, CA, for the Western Province; and Denver, CO, for the Midwestern Province which included South Dakota and the reservations there.

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In 1946 a young woman by the name of Eunice Witte, from a small farm in North Dakota, joined the congregation and took the name of Sister Monica. She would go on to support a legacy of goodwill and charity in the name of the Sisters of St. Francis that holds true to this day. Well known for her generosity, excellence as a teacher and dedication as a member of many reservation communities, Sister Monica spent 39 of her 59 years of ministry in humble service of Lakota families on Rosebud and Pine Ridge.

During her many assignments at Red Cloud Indian School, Sister Monica was a fixture in the community as a mentor, teacher and supporter of local artisans. Her tireless efforts and dedication to the school helped paved the way for the mission’s growth and the successes of its students over the years, earning roles as leaders in the local community, the state and the country.

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Last year, Sister Monica was called home to God after seven years in the care of the Marian Assisted Living Residence in Alliance, NE where she was often visited by her friends and fellow Sisters from the Pine Ridge Reservation and Red Cloud Indian School.

Today, one year after her funeral and burial at the Holy Rosary Cemetery on the grounds of the mission and school she so loved, community members, parishioners and congregation members from around the country joined together in memorial for Sister Monica and in celebration of more than 125 years of overall service and 75 years of gospel witness as a Midwestern Province of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity.

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During the afternoon Mass, Sister Geraldine Clifford, OSF—a graduate of the Red Cloud Indian School Class of 1948 and a Sister of St Francis for 62 years—gave a wonderful homily about the importance of the Sisters to the school and to the community. She recalled the kindness and joy she witnessed in Sister Genevieve Cuny, OSF, in particular, while she was a young student at Red Cloud Indian School and how those Wíŋyaŋ Wakȟáŋ (Holy Women, Sisters) inspired her to follow the goodness of God through serving the Church and the Lakota people.

“The Sisters truly wanted to bring joy to the children at [Red Cloud Indian School],” said Sr. Geraldine. “Witnessing their joy and humility inspired me to follow the Franciscan way.”

The Mass ended with the presentation of an extremely generous donation of $25,000 to Red Cloud Indian School by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity in honor of the school’s long-standing dedication to education of the mind, body and spirit, in memory of Sister Monica, and in celebration of the many decades of service of the Sisters there. The donation will assist in covering the cost of education for the 600 Lakota children that attend the school.

Attendants left Red Cloud’s Holy Rosary Church amidst a light summer’s rain and made their way to the historic Holy Rosary Cemetery to pray at Sister Monica’s headstone before returning to the main campus for a memorial dinner. While attendees enjoyed the company of family, friends and community members over a traditional meal of soup, fry bread and wóžapi (a berry pudding), Sister Rita Cammack, OSF honored members of Red Cloud’s pastoral ministry with Lakota star quilts for their service and hospitality to all Sisters. 

Learn More about Red Cloud’s Pastoral Ministry

 

Photos and Content ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014 unless otherwise noted