Sisters of St. Casimir join forces with Immaculate Heart of Mary

Sister Immacula Wendt, SSC (from left), adviser; Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM, Pontifical Delegate and Congregational Leader; Sister Elizabeth Ann, SSC, Adviser; and Rev. Anthony Pizzo, OSA, Celebrant in the St. Casimir Chapel at the Motherhouse on August 31.

As they have every year, the Sisters of St. Casimir prepared to celebrate the anniversary of their founding at the end of August. But this would be much different than in past years when Summerfests adorned the sprawling grounds of the Motherhouse on Marquette Road.

Just as those fests were important to the neighborhood so, too, would this year’s events be important but in a much different way. For, as in so many religious orders, as the years went by, the membership of the SSCs was dwindling and their future was uncertain.

But the SSCs refused to go down without a fight. For over a century, under the guidance of their foundress Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas and her successors, the SSCs staffed schools and hospitals and missions, educating and caring for the sick across the United States and South America. On the Southwest Side of Chicago alone, within the halls of the beautiful huge buildings they erected — namely their Motherhouse, Holy Cross Hospital, Maria High School — hundreds of thousands of lives have been transformed and nurtured throughout the years.

As the membership in the order began to fall, it became apparent that the Sisters could not hold these buildings up by themselves any longer. There were decisions to be made. They invited in leadership from the community for guidance but the decisions weighed most heavily on the shoulders of the Sisters.

This was their home, their legacy. Well, it took a lot of work and several years but the Sisters found a way to keep that legacy going. While they maintain a presence here at the Motherhouse, they also share the space with Catholic Charities. Maria High School is now a K-12 Catalyst school with enrollment topping a thousand students and growing, and Holy Cross Hospital still serves the community as a Catholic hospital under the leadership of Sinai Health Systems.

After taking care of that, there was but one thing left to do. And that was to guarantee the remaining Sisters could continue on with their mission in some way.

For this, they turned to an order of nuns that they sometimes referred to as their cousins. This is where Casmira Kaupas, who is now known as Venerable Mother Maria and the foundress of the Sisters of St. Casimir, began her religious career under the tutelage of Sister M. Cyril of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so many years ago.

After much deliberation, the SSCs along with the IHMs, agreed that it was time to take the matter to Rome where they would petition the Dicastery of Consecrated Life in Rome to approve the governance of the Congregation of the SSCs be transferred, which would be made official on their anniversary.

This year’s observance took place on two dates, Thursday, August 29, and Saturday, August 31. It would be the celebration of their 117th anniversary and the celebration of a new chapter. On both days, the sun shined brightly through the stained-glass windows setting the tone for the events.

Each day, emotions ran high, yet the outcome was joyful. On August 29, excitement filled the chapel as Sister Immacula Wendt, SSC, took the podium and explained the transfer of Congregational Leadership as follows:

“The governance of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Casimir is officially transferred to the Pontifical Commissary, Sister Kathryn Clauss, IHM, President and her successors. Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM, as Delegate for the Commissary will serve as Congregational Leader for the Sisters of St. Casimir. Sister Elizabeth Ann Yocius, SSC, and Sister Immacula Wendt, SSC, will serve on the Leadership Team as Advisors to Sister Ellen Maroney IHM.”

August 29 was the Transfer of Congregational Leadership and August 31 was the Celebration of said transfer. Both were within the sacred confines of a Mass. The main celebrant each day was Rev. Anthony Pizzo, OSA, Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Council and very good friend of the SSCs.

“Sisters, your commitment is remarkable. Your hope is contagious,” proclaimed Pizzo. “From this moment on, we continue into the future and look ahead with cherished memories.”

The SSCs have joined hands with their IHM Sisters, have accepted gratefully their governance and will work together; but will always remain first and foremost Sisters of St. Casimir.

Sisters of St. Casimir applauding their new leadership during the celebration of the Transfer of Congregational Leadership on August 31.