As a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts, we are a welcoming community of learners challenged by Franciscan values and charism, engaged in a continuous pursuit of knowledge, faith, wisdom, and justice, and ever mindful of a tradition that emphasizes reverence for creation, compassion and peacemaking. We strive for academic excellence in all programs, preparing students to contribute to the world through service and leadership.
To transform students into leaders inspired by Franciscan values and tradition to serve and shape our world.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, known as the Joliet Franciscans, have lived the challenge and dream given to St. Francis of Assisi by Jesus—“Rebuild my Church”—since the order was founded in Joliet in 1865 by Mother Alfred Moes, with help from her spiritual advisor, Father Pamfilo da Magliano, OFM.
During the young congregation’s first 11 growth-filled years, Sisters were sent to 36 different missions in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Ohio. They taught children in parish schools and played integral parts in the parish life of the Catholic Church as it grew strong roots in America.
At home in Joliet, the first Illinois Franciscans built a motherhouse, took in orphans and boarding students, staffed parish schools, and welcomed new members into their novitiate. They used precious resources to establish a variety of ministries and built a number of Catholic institutions that continue to serve the people of Joliet.
From the earliest days, these Sisters served various ethnic groups who were adjusting to American life. They learned to speak whatever language was required in order to teach the children in their care. They studied and mastered every academic area in order to provide a well-rounded education through their schools. The Congregation soon moved beyond the Midwest, accepting invitations to minister wherever the needs were great: Alabama in the South, Colorado and Arizona in the West, Indian reservations in the North, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC in the East.
In 1963, the Joliet Franciscans listened to a call that led them to Brazil, where they soon established several missions and a novitiate, welcoming Brazilian women to join their life and work. Their Brazilian community continues to flourish.
While traditionally trained as teachers, the Joliet Franciscans eventually broadened the scope of their ministries to serve as nurses and holistic health practitioners, social workers, jail ministers, and an ever-expanding variety of other service professions. Read more about their current work at jolietfranciscans.org.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated and Societies of Apostolic Life has created a public juridic person (PJP) that will ensure, in perpetuity, the sponsorship of the University of St. Francis (Illinois) and Marian University (Indiana) in the Catholic, Franciscan tradition.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in Joliet, Illinois and the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana requested the formation of the Third Order Franciscan University Alliance to provide long-term sponsorship of their two higher education institutions. This request was approved on August 11, 2024, the feast of St. Clare of Assisi.
While this PJP will have minimal impact on the operations and governance of each individual university, it provides a critical path by which both universities will be able to retain Franciscan sponsorship.
“This is something that we have been working on for several years and which also helps to ensure a path by which many of the other Catholic, Franciscan institutions of higher education can elect to continue to operate, even as their sponsoring congregations can no longer sponsor them”, said Sr. Jeanne Bessette, OSF, president of the Joliet Franciscans.
Daniel Elsener, president of Marian University, added, “This PJP is specifically structured to be able to admit additional Franciscan higher education institutions in the future – in collaboration with their sponsoring congregations. We’ll be making another outreach to them in the next few months.”
“We are overjoyed that, once again, the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg have had the courage to venture boldly into something new. We are proud that we and the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate together requested a pontifical PJP for our sponsored Marian University and their University of St. Francis,” said Sr. Maureen Irvin, OSF, congregational minister for the Oldenburg Franciscans. “Knowing that our strong tradition as Catholic, Franciscan Universities is assured into the future fulfills the long-standing hope of our Sisters, as well as the entire Marian University community.”
“Rome’s approval of the Franciscan higher education PJP is a statement of confidence – both in the continuity of mission and the vitality of sponsorship,” noted Dr. Donna Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C. “The Franciscan sisters and their academic ministries have established a structure that helps ensure the Catholic identity and charism of the universities into the future. It is a courageous and generous effort.”
Dr. Arvid Johnson, president of the University of St. Francis at the time of the alliance’s formation, commented, “This is a great opportunity and the beginning of USF’s next chapter—hand-in-hand with our founding and sponsoring Sisters, and in accordance with the charge of Mother M. Thomasine Frye, USF’s first president, to always remain Franciscan.”
About the Joliet Franciscans:
Led by the Spirit, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet Franciscans) embrace the Gospel life by commitment to Franciscan values and respond to the needs of our time through prayer, community, and ministry. Following the example of Mother Alfred Moes, they are women religious who take risks, assume new tasks, and devote new energies as they seek out those in need and share their lives with them. Their sponsored ministries include Joliet Catholic Academy (jca-online.org) and the University of St. Francis (stfrancis.edu).
About the Oldenburg Franciscans:
The Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Oldenburg, are women of prayer, committed to the Gospel values as lived by St. Francis and Mother Theresa Hackelmeier. From their life in community, they are sent to extend the mission of Jesus through their presence and service. Enlivened by a spirit of justice, reconciliation and peace, they collaborate with others in responding to the needs of the world. Their sponsored ministries include Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception (oldenburgacademy.org) and Marian University (marian.edu).
The University of St. Francis was established in 1920 by the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate for the education of its own members. For a detailed history of the school, including current milestones, visit the site created for the university’s 100th anniversary in 2020: stfrancis.edu/centennial.
The University of St. Francis acknowledges this sacred land held in stewardship as the original home of past indigenous peoples—most recently, the Illini, the Potawatomi, the Ojibwa, the Sauk, the Fox, and the Miami peoples. We acknowledge our Creator God’s understanding of and reverence for the land and its resources, and the respect indigenous people have shown towards all life upon it.
A “Peace Pole” is planted on the Quad of our main Joliet campus—its four sides each carved with the prayerful wish “May Peace Prevail” in four different languages.
As an institution whose very mission is to pass on to future generations the knowledge and debt owed to previous stewards of this land, the University of St. Francis humbly recognizes and celebrates its roots. Our hope—indeed, our duty—is to ensure there is peace between our brother sun, our sister air, our Mother Earth, (References Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures) the indigenous peoples of this land, the descendants of the immigrant Sisters and we, their followers, and all those who have yet to walk this land.