Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis - Cameroon
Encyclopedia
The Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis in Cameroon
are the African Province
of a congregation of Roman Catholic Religious Sisters
of the Third Order of St. Francis
which was founded in Brixen, Italy
, which lies in the South Tyrol
region of that country. Their international motherhouse
is in Rome.
The congregation was founded by Maria Hueber on September 12, 1700. After Hueber's mother died, she looked for something meaningful in her life. Her confessor
, Isidor Kirnigl, gave her strong encouragement to start a religious community. The Sisters live their lives inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, and under the Rule of the Franciscan Third Order Regulars.
The Cameroon Province was established when five Sisters were sent from Italy in response to a request for help by the Mill Hill Fathers working in that country. The Sisters ranged in age from 18 to 70. They arrived in Douala
on October 16, 1935, where they were met by Fr. Franz Figl, M.H.M. After resting, the missionary band set out for Shisong, traveling first by train as far as Nkongsamba
, and the rest of the trip by car.
Finding that a major bridge had been washed away by torrential rains, the Sisters were given hospitality by the Catholic populace of Babessi
. They continued to Shisong, finally arriving at their destination and formally establishing their mission on April 8, 1936. The Sisters were later to return to Babessi and establish a number of services for the people of that region.
Today the Province numbers over 100 Sisters, who work in many fields of service, from medical care to nursing homes to social services. The Sisters formed a relationship in A.D. 2000 with three congregations of Franciscan Sisters in the United States, who had developed from one community and were looking for ways to mark their common sesquicentennial of foundation. They created what they call the "Common Venture" in which the American Sisters mentor the Africans on ways to better their spiritual and professional development.
In 2008, the Province established its own mission to assist the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafia in Nigeria
.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
are the African Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of a congregation of Roman Catholic Religious Sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of 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...
which was founded in Brixen, Italy
Brixen, Italy
Brixen is a town in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.-Geography:The third largest city and oldest town in the province , the artistic and cultural capital of the valley...
, which lies in the South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
region of that country. Their international motherhouse
Motherhouse
The term motherhouse is used by religious Orders and religious congregations to designate the principal house or community for that group. It can be either for the entire institute or for a region....
is in Rome.
The congregation was founded by Maria Hueber on September 12, 1700. After Hueber's mother died, she looked for something meaningful in her life. Her confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
, Isidor Kirnigl, gave her strong encouragement to start a religious community. The Sisters live their lives inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, and under the Rule of the Franciscan Third Order Regulars.
The Cameroon Province was established when five Sisters were sent from Italy in response to a request for help by the Mill Hill Fathers working in that country. The Sisters ranged in age from 18 to 70. They arrived in Douala
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
on October 16, 1935, where they were met by Fr. Franz Figl, M.H.M. After resting, the missionary band set out for Shisong, traveling first by train as far as Nkongsamba
Nkongsamba
Nkongsamba is a city in western Cameroon. It is located in the Moungo department, which is in the Littoral region. The city had a population of 104,050 inhabitants at the 2005 Census. The city is a centre of farming of oil palms, bananas and coffee, and is situated between two mountains, the...
, and the rest of the trip by car.
Finding that a major bridge had been washed away by torrential rains, the Sisters were given hospitality by the Catholic populace of Babessi
Babessi
-References:* * - Thèse de Donation Avele, Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV * Charles Nanga, , Mémoire ENA....
. They continued to Shisong, finally arriving at their destination and formally establishing their mission on April 8, 1936. The Sisters were later to return to Babessi and establish a number of services for the people of that region.
Today the Province numbers over 100 Sisters, who work in many fields of service, from medical care to nursing homes to social services. The Sisters formed a relationship in A.D. 2000 with three congregations of Franciscan Sisters in the United States, who had developed from one community and were looking for ways to mark their common sesquicentennial of foundation. They created what they call the "Common Venture" in which the American Sisters mentor the Africans on ways to better their spiritual and professional development.
In 2008, the Province established its own mission to assist the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafia in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Endeavors of the Province
- Teaching
- Medical
- Pastoral and Social Services
- Orphanages
- Office Management
- Catering