Alfred Moes
Encyclopedia
Mother Mary Alfred Moes, O.S.F.
, (October 28, 1828 — December 18, 1899) was instrumental in establishing first, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet
, Illinois
, as well as the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota
. She was also the founder of St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota
, which became the famed Mayo Clinic
.
, Luxembourg
, she emigrated to America with her sister, Catherine, due to the preaching of Bishop John Henni
of Milwaukee for dedicated Catholics to come to the United States and provide religious services to the large immigrant communities, mostly German-speaking
, establishing themselves there and to the Native Americans
. Though both were highly educated in languages and the arts, they left a life of comfort and set sail from France on September 27, 1851, destined for New York City
. From 1852-1863 they lived first in Wisconsin, with the School Sisters of Notre Dame
in Milwaukee, then with the Marianites of Holy Cross
in South Bend, Indiana
. While there, the sisters took religious vows
and assumed the names of Sister Alfred and Sister Barbara. When the option arose of leaving the Holy Cross Sisters, the Moes sisters, with two companions, were received into the Third Order of St. Francis
, on June 1, 1863.
, the small group of four Sisters moved to that town the following November to begin teaching the local children. Lightning struck the Church of St. John the Baptist there on July 31, 1864, killing one parishioner, a young woman who left behind a family. The distraught widower asked the Sisters to care for his children. This unexpected work soon expanded, and the Sisters began to take in orphans, as well as boarding school students, and candidates to the community. The Sisters soon bought a larger house and established St. Francis Academy.
During the summer of 1865, the Guardian
of the Franciscan friars in the United States, Father Pamfilo da Magliano, O.S.F., summoned Sister Alfred to St. Bonaventure Friary, in Allegany County, New York
, along with the first postulant
to the community, Mary Ann Rosenberger. There he named Sister Alfred as the Superior General
of the new congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. At that time he bestowed the Franciscan habit
on Rothenberger, who took the name Sister Angela.
By 1869, the Sisters had built a new St. Francis Academy, teaching girls aged 3-20 and drawing students from across the nation. Pastors around the whole country sought the Sisters to come to their parishes to teach their children, especially in non-English-speaking populations. By 1874, the Sisters were teaching throughout five states, as far away as Tennessee
.
.
The Sisters began to open a series of successful schools. Following a tornado
, which devastated the young city of Rochester in 1883, Mother Alfred saw the need for a hospital in the town. She proposed to Dr. William Worrall Mayo
that the Sisters would operate a hospital
for the injured and sick if he and his sons would serve as its physician
s. Thus they opened St. Mary's Hospital on September 30, 1889. Today that hospital is a part of the Mayo Clinic
.
She died in 1899, aged 71.
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
, (October 28, 1828 — December 18, 1899) was instrumental in establishing first, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet
Joliet
There are several people and things named Joliet:*Louis Jolliet, a 17th century explorer of North America*Joliet, Illinois, United States, a city named after Louis Jolliet**Joliet Prison*Joliet, Montana, United States...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, as well as the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota
Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota
The Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The congregation was founded in 1877 by Mother Mary Alfred Moes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona...
. She was also the founder of St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota
Saint Marys Hospital (Rochester)
Saint Marys Hospital is one of two hospitals in Rochester, Minnesota operated by the Mayo Clinic, the other being Rochester Methodist Hospital. St Marys has a 61-bed emergency department but no obstetrics department, while Rochester Methodist lacks an emergency department but contains an obstetrics...
, which became the famed Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
.
Early life
Born as Maria Catherine Moes in RemichRemich
Remich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, she emigrated to America with her sister, Catherine, due to the preaching of Bishop John Henni
John Henni
John Martin Henni was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, serving from 1843 until his death in 1881.-Early life and education:...
of Milwaukee for dedicated Catholics to come to the United States and provide religious services to the large immigrant communities, mostly German-speaking
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, establishing themselves there and to the Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. Though both were highly educated in languages and the arts, they left a life of comfort and set sail from France on September 27, 1851, destined for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. From 1852-1863 they lived first in Wisconsin, with the School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
in Milwaukee, then with the Marianites of Holy Cross
Marianites of Holy Cross
The Marianites of Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic congregation of nuns, founded in Le Mans, France, in 1841, by the Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. While there, the sisters took religious vows
Religious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
and assumed the names of Sister Alfred and Sister Barbara. When the option arose of leaving the Holy Cross Sisters, the Moes sisters, with two companions, were received into the Third Order of St. Francis
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
, on June 1, 1863.
Illinois
At the invitation of the parish priest in Joliet, IllinoisJoliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
, the small group of four Sisters moved to that town the following November to begin teaching the local children. Lightning struck the Church of St. John the Baptist there on July 31, 1864, killing one parishioner, a young woman who left behind a family. The distraught widower asked the Sisters to care for his children. This unexpected work soon expanded, and the Sisters began to take in orphans, as well as boarding school students, and candidates to the community. The Sisters soon bought a larger house and established St. Francis Academy.
During the summer of 1865, the Guardian
Custos (Franciscans)
Custos means a superior or an official in the Franciscan Order. The precise meaning has differed over time, and between the Friars Minor, Conventuals, and Capuchins....
of the Franciscan friars in the United States, Father Pamfilo da Magliano, O.S.F., summoned Sister Alfred to St. Bonaventure Friary, in Allegany County, New York
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, along with the first postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
to the community, Mary Ann Rosenberger. There he named Sister Alfred as the Superior General
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of the new congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. At that time he bestowed the Franciscan habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
on Rothenberger, who took the name Sister Angela.
By 1869, the Sisters had built a new St. Francis Academy, teaching girls aged 3-20 and drawing students from across the nation. Pastors around the whole country sought the Sisters to come to their parishes to teach their children, especially in non-English-speaking populations. By 1874, the Sisters were teaching throughout five states, as far away as Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Minnesota
Mother Alfred came to plan an even larger expansion of the academy. The local bishop opposed this idea and ordered the Sisters to replace her with a new Superior General. One of her first companions, Sister Alberta, accepted the post temporarily. She then assigned Mother Alfred to go to Rochester to build Our Lady of Lourdes School, at the request of the bishop there. Shortly after that school was opened, Bishop Foley of Joliet expelled Mother Alfred from the congregation. Bishop Grace of Minnesota chose to accept her vows. Mother Alfred's permanent successor as Superior General then informed the Congregation of her expulsion, and offered the Sisters ten days to decide if they wished to join Mother Alfred in Minnesota. Of the whole Congregation, 92 chose to remain in Joliet, while 25 chose to join Mother Alfred. This small group became the nucleus of a new congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis of O.L. of LourdesThird Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
.
The Sisters began to open a series of successful schools. Following a tornado
1883 Rochester Tornado
The 1883 Rochester tornado was an F5 tornado that hit Rochester, Minnesota on August 21, 1883. It was one in a series of tornadoes that hit Southeast Minnesota that day, causing at least 37 deaths and over 200 injuries, and was the impetus for the creation of the Mayo Clinic. On July 21, two...
, which devastated the young city of Rochester in 1883, Mother Alfred saw the need for a hospital in the town. She proposed to Dr. William Worrall Mayo
William Worrall Mayo
William Worrall Mayo was a British medical doctor and chemist, best known for establishing the private medical practice that later evolved into the Mayo Clinic. He was a descendant of a famous English chemist, John Mayow. His sons, William James Mayo and Charles Horace Mayo, joined the private...
that the Sisters would operate a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
for the injured and sick if he and his sons would serve as its physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s. Thus they opened St. Mary's Hospital on September 30, 1889. Today that hospital is a part of the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
.
She died in 1899, aged 71.
Sources
- Kraman, Carlan, O.S.F. Odyssey in Faith: The Story of Mother Alfred Moes. Rochester, MN: Sisters of St. Francis, 1990.
See also
- St. Mary's Hospital (Rochester)