Name/Title
Sisters at Clare GardensEntry/Object ID
70.04.003Description
Clare Gardens located at 26th Avenue and Osceola Street in Denver, Colorado. In the back row, from left to right, are Sister Mary Barbara (Theresa) Langfield and Sister Magdalene "Maggie" (Daniel) Ryan. In the front row, from left to right, are Sister Ernestine (Helen) Duran, Sister Clara (Arthur) Westrich and Sister Josephine (Mary Josephine) Martinelli.
Situated near the former site of St. Clara's Orphanage, Francis Heights and Clare Gardens opened over the course of 1972 and 1973. Created as affordable housing for seniors and families, the complex offered more than four hundred apartments and townhomes. The Franciscan Sisters sponsored the ministry until a transfer to Mercy Housing in 2016.Context
Born in Germany in 1827, Mother Clara Pfaender founded the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, in 1860. With a focus on education, nursing and care for orphaned children, the women reached out to those in need. In the following years, Sisters were sent to nations such as France, the Netherlands and the United States. There, they gained increased autonomy when America became a province in 1884, and by the early 20th Century, their health and education ministries included locations in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Colorado. Looking to relocate, in 1947 land was purchased in Wheaton, Illinois and a new motherhouse was completed in 1955. As time passed, the Sisters continued to develop their healthcare ministry and addressed pressing issues such as Polio, Aids and affordable housing. During the early 21st Century, they celebrated the 150th anniversary of the congregation and found new sponsorships for their healthcare and housing ministries. Today, the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters continue to follow in the spirit of Mother Clara Pfaender by responding to the needs of the Church and our times.Lexicon
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Notes
Please contact the WFS Archives (archives@wfsisters.org) for further information or materials requests.