Times past but still present

The story of the School Sisters of St. Francis began in 1843 in Graz, Austria. The sisters countinued living our charism of intimate union with God combining the contemplative and the apostolic way of life to different places and periods in time. It wass in 1888 in Slatiňany, Bohemia that the new branch took root.

Founders

Thanks to the devout young woman, Antonia Lampel, a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, who became aware of the need of educating and training young girls in the local area, both spiritually and academically ...

  • Small community

    Small community

    Antonia, her sister Amalia, and a few young Secular Franciscan women agreed to live together as a small community while devoting themselves to the education and formation of young girls, particularly from the lower social class. Sister Frances wrote: "We have to be very humble, small before God so that He would take us into His hands and help us to educate the children. We are aware that the blessing must come from above, from the Father of lights. As soon as we forget it, we find only ourselves and spoil everything.”

  • New congregation

    They lived together, and since, in their opinion, their lifestyle did not essentially differ from a “regular” religious community, they considered themselves as such. However, they desired to obtain the necessary approval to be designated as a new religious community. Therefore, Antonia and her associates drafted the statutes governing their religious life, and through Bishop Johann Zaengerle, presented them for approval to the Holy See. Pope Gregory XVI granted the approval of the Church on July 15, 1843. Antonia became the first superior of the new congregation and received the name of Sister Frances.

    New congregation
  • New branch

    New branch

    Three sisters from the Zahalka family in Bohemia entered this young congregation in Graz in 1860 — Sister Jacoba, Sister Hyacinth and Sister Adalberta. In 1886, the Zahalka sisters visited their native land of Bohemia where they met Bishop Hais of Hradec Kralove. He expressed a desire to have sisters in his diocese to educate and train the young girls. After obtaining the necessary ecclesiastical and congregational permission and with the financial support of the Zahalka family and Countess Louise von Stadion, the sisters returned to Bohemia in 1888 and began teaching the poor children in Slatinany. Thus was born a new, autonomous branch of the original Graz foundation with Mother Hyacinth Zahalka as its foundress and first superior.

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Servant of God

We would like to share with you the life and virtues of

  • Sister Elishka Pretschner

    Sister Elishka Pretschner

    „Everyone is called to awaken joy and love“

    Who is Sister Eliška, Servant of God?

    Born in 1911 in Czechoslovakia, Anna Pretschnerová made her vows in 1932 and received the name Sister Eliška.  Her education was halted in 1945 during the Second World War and later when Communist forces closed the colleges and universities, but she managed to continue her studies by other means.  During the rise of Communism and the forced internment of religious, the seizure of their properties,  Sister Eliška worked openly as a nurse and clandestinely as a leader to help others remain faithful in their religious beliefs.  When interrogated by the occupying regime, she accepted all blame for forbidden religious activities.

    In 1954, the General Minister appointed Sister Eliška as the provincial minister of the Czech Province.  During the temporary liberation in the late 1960’s, she helped to establish the Secretariat of Religious Communities and pioneered liturgical reform according to the changes made by the Second Vatican Council.  In 1970, she began two terms as the General Minister of our congregation.  Upon return to her home country to renew her passport, she was subjected to humiliating interrogations.  After 14 months of detainment, the Vatican managed to convince the state officials to allow her to return to Rome to continue her service as leader of the congregation.  Sister Eliška died in 1993 and the process for her beatification process began in 2001.

    A more detailed biography is found at the beginning of the Novena.

    Click to download the Novena.

    The
    Novena in also in other languages: Czech, Italian, Spanish, German and can be found on the web page: www.eliskaosf.cz

    Download
    • Conferenze

      19.05.2018 19. 5. 2018 - Nové Adalbertinum Hradec Králové: The postulator of the beatification process S. M. Zdislava Nosková in cooperation with the Diocese of Hradec Králové and other subjects organized a one-... learn more
    • S.M. Eliška OSF * 26.9.1911 - † 4.5.1993

      04.03.2018 New phase of the beatification process of S.M. Eliška OSF from 2014 The process of S.M. Eliška OSF has entered a new phase. Upon request of the Czech Province of the School Sisters of Saint Francis, B... learn more
    • Books

      02.02.2018 In the Czech language: PŘIŠLA JSEM VÁM SLOUŽIT Kniha o životě S. M. Elišky Pretschnerové OSF autor: Petr Piťha http://www.ikarmel.cz/kniha/Prisla-jsem-vam-slouzit_101358.html For downloading in the Cz... learn more
    • Shorts films

      06.01.2018 http://www.eliskaosf.cz/eli-film1.htm http://www.eliskaosf.cz/eli-film2.htm http://www.eliskaosf.cz/eli-film3.htm learn more

    Conferenze

    19.05.2018

    19. 5. 2018 - Nové Adalbertinum Hradec Králové:


    The postulator of the beatification process S. M. Zdislava Nosková in cooperation with the Diocese of Hradec Králové and other subjects organized a one-day conference on the Servant of God,  S. M. Elishka Prestchner. There were the sisters from four jurisdictions of the congregation and many other participants present. The program included sharing of the people who knew Sister Eliska personally (her colleagues, sisters, priests) and also a short performance on her life prepared by an amateur theatrical group. The content of the conference was simultaneously translated into Italian and English. The program was concluded by a Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Jan Vokál in the adjoining Assumption Church. 

    S.M. Eliška OSF * 26.9.1911 - † 4.5.1993

    04.03.2018

    New phase of the beatification process of S.M. Eliška OSF from 2014


    The process of S.M. Eliška OSF has entered a new phase. Upon request of the Czech Province of the School Sisters of Saint Francis, Bishop of Hradec Kralove Mons. Jan Vokál has re-established this process. After attending the course for postulators at the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in Rome, S.M. Zdislava Nosková OSF became the postulator.

    Books

    02.02.2018

    In the Czech language:
    PŘIŠLA JSEM VÁM SLOUŽIT
    Kniha o životě S. M. Elišky Pretschnerové OSF
    autor: Petr Piťha

    http://www.ikarmel.cz/kniha/Prisla-jsem-vam-slouzit_101358.html

    For downloading in the Czech language:
    JAK JSME JI ZNALY I NEZNALY. OSOBNOST NAŠÍ SPOLUSESTRY S.M. ELIŠKY PRETSCHNEROVÉ OSF
    autorka: S.M. Blažena Fabíková OSF

    http://www.eliskaosf.cz/eli-publi.htm

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