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History and Development
Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi
1922 – 2018
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The development of the Congregation
“Many people, even the very Christians seem to forget that they have an immortal soul; they live as though they were only body figures and had been created for the earth. Such people are quite oblivious of their Creator and do not pay Him the honour and adoration which are due to Him.” [extracts from Bishop Fleischer’s founding letter written on 8th September 1922]
The Founder was aware of how people, created in the image and likeness of God, were drawn away from Him by personal selfishness and the false splendour of the world. Distressed by this he wanted us, by our life of Faith, to challenge the people to return to God. Living the Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in Fraternity in a spirit of prayer and ongoing conversion to the Gospel we are to be prophetic sign of the world to come.
Thus our Fraternity of the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi was founded on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
on 8th December 1922, by Bishop Michael Adalbero Fleischer CMM at Mariannhill in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Bishop Fleischer was a lay Franciscan when he was growing up. Though he became a CMM but he remained a Franciscan at heart. That is one of the reasons why he chose to give us the Third Order Regular Rule of St. Francis. The Founder saw our Fraternity as willed, empowered by the Holy Spirit and supported by the prayer of the laity when he wrote:
“Let us pray to the Holy Spirit that He may richly bless
this undertaking and imprint His mark on it or that He causes it
to collapse soon if it does not have His approval.”
Decades ago the Daughters were escalating in numbers and flourished in their various ministries, nevertheless they are still doing their best in missions where they are placed but their number has decreased to 136 members.
OUR FOUNDER AND CO-FOUNDRESS
Bishop Michael Adalbero Fleischer and Mother Aemeliana Ambruster CPS
Founder Michael Adalbero Fleischer CMM
Bishop Fleischer Michael Adalbero Fleischer was born in Dettelback on Main, on the 4th January 1874. The village numbered at that time about 1 500 inhabitants. Michael was the second eldest son of Adam Fleischer and his wife Lucretia née Wölfling. The family had altogether nine children, but three of them died already in early infancy. The father was a diligent master baker and the mother was a quiet, but devoted and busy woman, who cared lovingly and untiringly for the welfare of her family and children. With great sacrifice on their part, the parents made it possible that four of their sons could go for higher education, and thus gave to the Church four priests. From the four sons, Michael became the missionary and joined the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill. He later became the General Superior of the same Congregation and from there he was elected the first Bishop of a newly erected Vicariate, namely of Mariannhill. Last but not least he became the Founder of the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi.
Foundress Mother Aemeliana Ambruster CPs
Mother Aemeliana was born in the same year 1874, as our Founder, in Buffalo, America, but was a German by nationality. Not much is said in our history about her family background but she had a sister by the name of Sr. Ignatia Ambruster CPS whom she had not known that she followed her in Religious life. She became the First Directress General of the Fraternity of the Daughters. Abbot Gerard Worlpert had appointed her because of her expertise in speaking English and Zulu languages. She led the Fraternity with wisdom and enthusiasm for 26 years, effecting its growth within and without.
The first Girl’s entered on 8th December 1922
Our pioneers were:
Aloysia Mbatha from Mariathal Mission, Adelaide Zicaka from Amanzimtoti,
Romana Ngongoma, Armella Duma, Zephrina Mkhize and Josepha Sithole from
St Michael’s, Clementina Zulu from Reichenau, Angella Memela from Mariazell,
Flora Tenza from Maria Linden, Praxedis Vezi from Oetting and
Stephania Shezi from Centocow.
Candidates from Rhodesia were; Valeria, Monica, Julia, Lucia, Margareta all from Montecassion,Agnes Rowesayi from Jesuit Mission & Catherine & Bridget from Triashill
Identity – our Heritage
Our Founder’s primary vision was the evangelization of the indigenous people, i.e. African people. His aim of founding our congregation was to see that vision being realized. He had this vision prior his becoming the First Superior General of the Missionaries of Mariannhill in 1920; and before becoming the First Bishop of the Diocese of Mariannhill in 1922. He got that inspiration while working as a missionary in Rhodesia, known now as Zimbabwe where he started recruiting young women who were aspiring religious life. When he received his episcopal appointment, this vision was greatly encouraged as much favorable grounds were being opened to that possibility. The newly ordained bishop did not waste any time after his ordination on the 15th August 1922, he called those young women he had recruited in Rhodesia; and together with a group of other South African girls; he clothed them on the 8th December 1922; and thus the Foundation of his newly found congregation was laid.
He gave this newly found congregation the name: Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi, in Latin: Filie Sancti Francisci de Assisi, acronym (F.S.F.). He gave this congregation its vision and mission: The Glorification of God by following The Poor and Crucified Christ. He placed it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the protection of Mary Conceived without sin; and gave it the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. In founding this congregation he was assisted by a Precious Blood sister by the name: Sr. Aemiliana Ambruster CPS, who became the First Directress General from 1922 to 1949. This is how we came about.