Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph

Fr. Hyacinth Fudzinski requested Mother Colette to bring her Sisters from Trenton, NJ to Buffalo, NY on July 29, 1898.  The arrival of Sister Colette and her Sisters brought joy to the parishioners.  Construction of the school building had not yet begun, but Fr. Fudzinski was determined to open Corpus Christi School in the Fall with the staff of Sisters.  The warm welcome into the diocese, together with the blessing extended by Bishop Quigley, was an auspicious beginning of the apostolic endeavor.         In All Things Charity

As principal of Corpus Christi, Mother Colette labored zealously in organizing the first school under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph.  As a classroom instructor, she gave unstintingly of her talents.  Both Sister Jerome Biernacki and Sister Xavier Kaczmarek have fond memories of classes at Corpus Christi in those early days.  Sr. Jerome had such esteem for the Foundress that she took the name of “Colette” at Confirmation.  Sr. Jerome said, “Mother Colette was a great teacher!”  Sr. Xavier recalls Mother Colette as “patient, but firm. Mother Colette kept her word.”               In All Things Charity

Mother Clara, the Second General Minister of FSSJ, obtained permission of Rome and approval of Bishop Turner of Buffalo to initiate the erection of the sorely-needed convent at Hamburg, NY.   Provincial of the OFM  Conventuals,  Rev. Justin Figas, delivered an address to a gathering of a thousand witnesses.  Their presence in such numbers testified amply to the fruitful labors of the spiritual daughters of Mother Colette Hilbert who had founded the Congregation and offered tangible proof of the gratitude, loyalty, and devotion of the Polish clergy and people.                                              In All Things Charity