University of St. Francis to honor Sisters of St. Francis at Founders’ Day
The University of St. Francis will honor its founders and sponsors, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate at its first Founders’ Day: Living the Legacy on Thursday, Sept. 8. University of St. Francis students, alumni and friends are invited to the celebration.
The Sisters of St. Francis founded the university in 1920 for the education of its own members. Founders’ Day will be celebrated on Sept. 8, the day in1925 that the first dean Sister Alcantara Held opened the doors to officially welcome female students outside the congregation.
"This will become an important event at the University of St. Francis each year as we celebrate and honor the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate for their commitment to education and their example and legacy of service to the community," said USF President Michael Vinciguerra.
"We are very humbled by the sisters’ magnificent contributions to our university and community, and very aware that, as lay people, we need to continue to live the Franciscan ideals they instilled here at this university," Vinciguerra said. "We’re looking forward to having the sisters on campus on Founders’ Day, in particular," he added.
Founders’ Day will begin with a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph L. Imesch, bishop, Diocese of Joliet. Sr. Rose Marie Surwilo, OSF, professor emeritus, will give the homily. Sisters along with faculty and staff will join the university’s Schola Cantorum choir to perform. Mass will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the Sr. Anita Marie Jochem Memorial Chapel. A reception will follow the Mass in the Presidents Room.
In celebration of the bounty of fall and in remembrance of apple trees that used to grace the university property, apples will be the theme for the day. An "Apple Pickin’ Trip" to the Garden Patch Farm in Homer Glen will be for students, alumni, friends and USF employees. The trip will be on Wednesday, Sept. 7, beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children, and include an apple picking excursion and tours by farmer Earl Hiller.
Wilmington resident Andy Honiotes will display his 1914 Model T Ford Truck on campus in honor of his aunt, Mary Kochalka, a 1929 graduate of St. Francis.
The institution was first Assisi Junior College, and then the College of St. Francis until 1998 when it moved to university status. The institution became coeducational in 1971, and in 1972 became one of the first in the country to offer off-campus degree completion programs. The master’s degree program in Health Services Administration began in 1980, and was followed by several more graduate programs in the 1990s. In 1997, the university was one of the first to offer an MBA online. In 1997, the institution affiliated with the Saint Joseph College of Nursing.
A new webpage detailing the rich history of the university and the Sisters of St. Francis will be available soon. Designed by USF student Jane Cartwright during the summer, the site will feature living history recounts by sisters and alumni. Visitors to the sites will be able to have a "video visit" with sisters and alumni who share their memories of special people and events. The site will be reached through the university’s home page at www.stfrancis.edu.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet Franciscans) have provided service to the community and beyond for more than 138 years. Ministering in education, child-care, elder care, social justice arenas and holistic health, the Joliet Franciscans promote the just treatment of all individuals, and work for peace.
Today, the University of St. Francis serves more than 4,100 students at locations nationwide. More than 60 areas of undergraduate study are offered in the arts and sciences, business, education, music, nursing and allied health and social work. Three bachelor’s degree completion programs are offered along with 11 graduate programs in health care, education and business. USF also has a center in Albuquerque, N.M. where it offers master’s degrees in Physician Assistant Studies and Family Nurse Practitioner.
The University of St. Francis is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet. For information about Founders Day, call (815) 740-3404.