History of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother

Amalia Frances Rose Streitel is born in Mellrichstadt, Germany to Adam and Frances Streitel.  She is the eldest of four children and is raised in a pious and comfortable home. Their father served as a local magistrate and Frances instilled a love for helping other in her children.

Amalia enters the Maria Stern Convent and receives the name "Sr. Angela"

After many years as a Franciscan sister, she feels the call to join a Carmelite community. She joins the Carmelites in Himmelspforten and receives the name "Sr. Petra"

After having a mystical experience in prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart, Mother Frances had a vision of two mountains and realized God was calling her to found a new religious order to unite a contemplative prayer life with an active ministry to others.

Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan recently founded the Society of the Divine Savior, also known as the Salvatorians, and was interested in founding a female branch of this new community; he invited Mother Frances to join him in Rome to lead this new group. Amalia arrives in Rome in February of 1883 and receives the name Mary Frances of the Cross arrived in Rome in February of 1883.

The new community grows quickly and Mother Frances welcomes many young women. Mother Frances and her young flock begin to take in Roman orphans and provide home health care.

Due to ideological differences, Mother Frances and Father Jordan decide to separate their communities. Mother Frances’ dream of starting a new congregation is fulfilled with the establishment of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.

In order to support the Sisters’ ministry in Rome, two Sisters travel to New York to begin collecting alms. They travel to Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Quincy, Chicago, Rochester, Milwaukee, Louisville, and St. Louis.

The Sisters begin their first mission in the United States when they take over administration of the struggling St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.

Mother Frances’ first trip to the United States. During her visit she helps the Sisters in Wichita and also founds St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin and St. Mary’s Hospital in Menomonie, Wisconsin. [There are no known photographs of St. Mary’s Hospital, Menomonie]

St. Mary’s Hospital (now Mercy Medical Center) is founded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Sisters begin work in orphanages and 3 schools in Kansas and Wisconsin.

St. Mary’s Hospital in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk, Wisconsin are founded.

A group of Sisters travel to Denville, New Jersey with Father Joseph Joch to establish St. Francis Sanatorium, later known as St. Francis Health Resort.

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Wabasha, Minnesota and St. Joseph Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota are founded.

St. Joseph’s Orphanage opens in Wabasha, Minnesota

SSM is aggregated with the Franciscan Order

St. Mary’s Hospital opens in Roswell, New Mexico.

The American motherhouse and novitiate is established in Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Mother Frances dies in Castel Sant’Elia, Italy on March 6^th, 1911.  On the exact same day, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother receive final approval as a papal Congregation.

St. Michael’s Hospital is founded in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

School of Nursing opens at St. Mary’s Hospital, Oshkosh, Wisconsin with the enrollment of 12 sisters. This begins a series of opening schools of nursing at SSM Hospitals.

St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Wichita, Kansas

St. John’s Hospital and School of Nursing opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma. St. Mary’s School burns down.

The American motherhouse is built in Milwaukee and the Sisters move from Marshfield. This new motherhouse will also house the Sorrowful Mother High School (1927-1968).

St. Alphonsus Hospital is built in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

SSM education ministry begins and grows in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Holy Family Hospital is founded in Estherville, Iowa.

First class of aspirants (juniors) in Milwaukee, WI.

St. Clare’s Hospital is opened and dedicated in Denville, New Jersey.

Mater Dolorosa Prep School is opened in Denville, New Jersey.

Sisters serve at Sacred Heart School in Rockaway, NJ and Sacred Heart Nursing Home in Tomahawk, WI. Madonna High School opens in Milwaukee.

Sisters staff St. Anne’s School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Franciscan Villa opens in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

The Sisters adopt their new constitutions: Our Way of Life.

The SSM hospitals in Tomahawk and Rhinelander, Wisconsin consolidate.

100^th Anniversary of the founding of the SSM Congregation. The celebrations are held throughout the year to mark this momentous occasion. Start of the SSM Associates Movement, a program for lay people to formally join with the SSMs in prayer and hope.

Ministry Health Care is established in Wisconsin and forms a healthcare system for the SSMs hospitals in the Midwest.

Agape Community Center opens in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

US/Caribbean Province is formed and the SSM Health System (Marian Health System) is established. The retired Sisters move from Mother of Sorrows Covent in Milwaukee to Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Fundación SSM is established in the Dominican Republic.

Via Christi Health System is founded in Kansas as well as the Affinity Health System in Wisconsin.

Establishment of St. Clare’s Health System in Denville, New Jersey. Door County Memorial Hospital in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin joins Ministry Health Care.

Caribbean Catholics of North America ministry begins.

House of Formation opens in Denville, New Jersey. Renovation completed at SSM Franciscan Courts in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Sisters begin to serve in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey. The Good Samaritan Medical Center in Merrill, Wisconsin joins Ministry Health Care. Dedication of Our Lady of Victory Hospital in Stanley, Wisconsin. St. Clare Hospital opens in Weston, Wisconsin.

St. John-Owasso Hospital opens in Oklahoma. Casa Fiat house of discernment opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sponsorship of St. Clare Health System is transferred to CHI.

The Sisters celebrate the 125^th anniversary of their founding.