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By Anne Holliday
FSA Communications Coordinator
The histories of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the Franciscan Friars, and St. Bonaventure University have been intertwined since the very beginning, and Bonaventure president Dr. Jeff Gingerich and Michael Hickey, heard some of that history during a recent visit to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany.
Gingerich and Hickey, president of the university’s board of trustees, were invited to the Motherhouse by Sr. Margaret Magee, Congregational Minister, who also serves on the Bonaventure board.
During the visit, Congregational Archivist, Ellen Winger gave a tour and brief history of the relationship between the sisters, the friars and the university’s School of Education.
In the 1930s, Reverend Mother Dominica Enright knew the need of establishing a teacher’s training college at the Motherhouse. The sisters wanted the program to be affiliated with St. Bonaventure’s College, however, this would not be possible until St. Bonaventure attained university status. In the interim the sisters affiliated the Teacher’s College with Catholic University in Washington, DC, with the understanding that once St. Bonaventure became a university, the affiliation would transfer.
St. Elizabeth’s Teacher’s College was officially established in June 1945 and trained hundreds of sisters over the next six years. In 1951, when St. Bonaventure became a university, the teacher’s college became the Elementary School Division in the Department of Education.
Nearly a dozen sisters have lent their talents to serving the University community over the years, beginning with Sr. Mary Anthony Brown, the first women to teach at St. Bonaventure. Other sisters include: Sisters Frances M. Cardillo, Margaret Flynn, Mary Hicks, Veronica Marie Lonergan, M. Bartholomew McDonald, Adrian Marie Parris, Mary Carleen Rooney, Melissa Scholl and Kathie Uhler.
During the tour Winger talked about the school and hospital ministries the sisters started in the US (particularly Florida and the award-winning BayCare Health System), Jamaica, Brazil, Bolivia, and Mozambique.
During lunch, Sr. Margaret talked about the fraternal relationship between the sisters and the Franciscan friars, especially those in the Holy Name Province. Currently, two friars, who are retired, live at the Motherhouse. The friars of the university regularly say Mass in the Motherhouse chapel.
While in the dining room, Gingerich and Hickey visited and introduced themselves to every sister who was there, many of whom are Bonaventure alumni.
Joining in this visit and tour was Sr. Judith Terrameo, Local Minister of the Motherhouse and Rev. Carrie Wolfe, Pastoral Minister for the Motherhouse sisters. Conversations focused on re-establishing programs that were suspended because of the pandemic, such pairing a Bonaventure student with a sister for companionship. Special attention was given to collaborative planning for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Pamfilo di Magliano, which will be April 22, 2024. A Franciscan friar, Fr. Pamfilo was co-founder of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany with Reverend Mother Teresa O’Neil. He was also instrumental in the founding of the university and served as its first president.
Sr. Margaret said, “It was delightful to have Dr. Gingerich and Michael Hickey visit and spend time with us. Over the years, the shared history, ministry and supportive relationships of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the Franciscan Friars, and St. Bonaventure University community have been a blessing for so many people. We look forward to this continued journey together.”
Pictured with Dr. Gingerich, center, and Michael Hickey are Sr. Margaret Magee, Sr. Joan Dawson, Sr. Margaret Foley and Sr. James Peter Goggin.
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