Assembly Resolution No. 558

BY: M. of A. Rivera JD

COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of the
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamburg, New
York

WHEREAS, The character and richness of religious and community life
in this noble Empire State is nourished and fulfilled through the
faithful concern and selfless devotion of those who would commit their
energies and purpose to the ministry of others; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full
recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish
themselves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and
preeminence of service; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters of St.
Joseph of Hamburg, New York; and

WHEREAS, Agnes Victoria Hilbert was educated in a private academy in
Cieszyn, the territory of Austrian Poland, by the Sisters of Charity of
St. Charles Borromeo; she was received into the Charity Sisters'
Congregation in 1883, and given the name of Sister Mary Colette; and

WHEREAS, In 1889, Sister Colette and four Sisters of St. Charles
Borromeo were sent to educate the children of St. Stanislaus Parish in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; eight years later, Sister Colette was
transferred to Trenton, New Jersey, and was asked to end her affiliation
with her Congregation in Europe and establish a new Congregation of
Sisters in the United States; and

WHEREAS, With the assistance of the Order of Friars Minor
Conventual, Pope Leo XIII granted Sister Colette permission to establish
a new Congregation of Sisters with the mission of service to God's
people through education and charitable works; and

WHEREAS, On September 8, 1897, Sister Colette and four American
novices adopted the Rule of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis as
their way of life in God's service; and

WHEREAS, In 1928, after having been granted permission and a
blessing for the new venture by Pope Leo XIII, Sister Colette became the
first General Minister of the newly-established Congregation of the
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSSJ); due the congregation's rapid
growth, the Sisters moved from Buffalo to the convent in Hamburg, New
York; and

WHEREAS, Recognized as the Foundress of the new Congregation, Sister
Colette was lovingly called Mother Colette, and became the principal of
Corpus Christi School; her vast educational background and teaching
experience on two continents contributed to an enriched curriculum, and
her compassion for the less fortunate, "In All Things - Charity," became
the Sisters philosophy; and


WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished 125-year history, the Sisters
opened and staffed countless schools and served in various educational
positions in Alabama, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Virginia, Georgia, North
Carolina, and Washington, D.C; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, FSSJ's Immaculata Academy, a high school for
girls, and Hilbert College, named after Mother Colette Hilbert, were
built on the convent grounds; Sisters also ministered in health care
facilities throughout Michigan, New York and Wisconsin, as well as
Vietnam and Brazil; and

WHEREAS, In the early 2000s, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph
recognized their calling to create a legacy of a new home - one that
would be constructed in the Spirit of St. Francis's love of creation and
one that would allow them to open their home, spirituality and our hope
for the future to others; subsequently, in 2010, the new Immaculate
Conception Convent was built on South Park Avenue in Hamburg; and

WHEREAS, The Sisters' vision of opening and sharing their home
became a reality when Catholic Health purchased Immaculate Conception
Convent in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Today, Immaculate Conception Convent, now St. Francis Park,
has become an independent living facility for seniors from all walks of
life where there is a special feeling of community, safety, kindness and
hope; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments is
brought to our attention, it is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly
proclaim and commend them for the edification of others; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters of St.
Joseph of Hamburg, New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg, New York.