Just as missionary zeal impelled Francis of Assisi and Veronica of Warsaw to travel to unknown lands, five Bernardine Sisters left the United States in 1937 to respond to the needs of the Church in Brazil. They rendered services as teachers, health care professionals, social workers, day care providers and advocates for the poor. Once again in 1957, another group of Bernardine missionaries opened schools, a teachers’ college, a clinic and home for handicapped children in Cape Palmas and Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. Later, the congregation’s missionary spirit also reached the shores of Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
and Mozambique.
From God came the call and through our patrons, Francis of Assisi and Bernardine of Siena as well as through our foundress, Mother Veronica came the vision. Each set a pace, determined the stride and called forth commitment. Inspired by them, we trust in God’s providential care and the mystery of God’s grace that empowers us to believe that living the Gospel in our world
is our mission.