Pages of Providence On to St. Louis, Missouri
Journal Entry: Mother Aloysia Bansbach  Mother Aloysia (1856-1939) was a woman of great courage and intellect. She held several positions of Community leadership, including Provincial of St. Peter's Province (1920-29), Consultor, Supervisor of St. John's Hospita , and Superior of Divine Providence Academy . Under her leadership, the Community purchased property and built the present Provincial House; her hand can be seen in many of the design features of the building. Mother Aloysia was instrumental in establishing the St. Louis Province .
August 1, 1935
Perhaps more than anything else, I love music. I never tire of practicing for our liturgical celebrations, although I suspect the Sisters grow weary of the repetition. One of my favorite pastimes these days, other than writing in this diary, is the hymnal that I am compiling for special feasts and celebrations. It has already grown to include more than 75 selections, and I suspect it will reach 100 before it is complete! What some might consider a task, I find exhilarating and gain much satisfaction from the work.
Today my thoughts are with my Sisters in St. Louis. It is the celebration of the fifth Foundation Day of their province and I am remembering its humble beginning. The Sisters there are doing such good work and Providence once more flourishes throughout the Midwest. I have a special place in my heart for that particular area. I have fond remembrances of my teaching days, and visits with my brother, Philip, who lived in St. Louis. It just seems to me to be a very "American" place -- and I love America. I remember the day so long ago when my Superior, Mother Vincent, called us all into the parlor to read a letter from the Sisters in America. I took a seat on the small blue sofa across from Mother Vincent's desk. When she got to the part about sending Sisters to America, I almost jumped over the table, pleading for permission to go. To this day, I cannot say what came over me to make me act so boldly. Whatever it was, it changed the course of my life, and I am forever grateful.
Older Sisters like me cherish a deep love for the western missions. From our earliest days in America, many of us taught in the Midwest. In 1920, my first year as Provincial Superior in Pittsburgh , Providence led us west again. It was in December of that year that I visited Philip in St. Louis. He introduced me to a friend, Father Kaenders, who had recently purchased a hospital in Granite City, Illinois, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. He had hoped the hospital would serve the Catholics in the area, but he was unsuccessful at getting any religious community to supervise it. As Father Kaenders spoke, I was already formulating a plan. By the end of our conversation, when Father asked if the Sisters would purchase the hospital, I seized the opportunity. The price of $50,000 was within our range, and so with an eye toward moving westward once again, the deal was closed.
How happy the Sisters were to hear about this new mission! By January, six Sisters reported to the hospital to work. From this small beginning, St. Elizabeth Hospital grew in size and reputation. Soon we accepted administration of a number of schools. By 1926, the presence of Providence was strong once more in a part of this great country that is so close to my heart.
 We were all so busy in those days. And in the midst of expanding mission work, we in St. Peter's Province were petitioning Vatican approval to become a canonical congregation. The Congregation was counseled to form five provinces and then reapply. After much ado, our Superiors decided to form three provinces in Germany (Mainz, Offenbach, Bad Homburg). St. Peter's Province in Pittsburgh was the fourth, and it seemed that my vision for a distinct Midwest province soon would become a reality, which brought me much happiness. The decision to recognize the St. Louis Province was made final in 1930 and Mother Rosalia Weaver was appointed Provincial.
I remember the happy occasion of St. Louis 's Foundation Day on August 1, 1930. Mother Beata (Weitz), who was General Superior of the Congregation, accompanied me on the two-day trip from Pittsburgh to Granite City to join in the celebration. Poor Mother Beata almost perished from the scorching Midwest heat. As if the heavy black serge habit wasn't difficult enough to cope with, Mother Beata's corpulence presented her with an extra challenge. She resorted to packing her body in cold towels for most of the trip! But it was worth the inconvenience to see the happy faces of the Sisters in St. Louis and to hear of their good work in the hospitals and schools. Providence was certainly glorified on that happy day!
While the St. Peter's Province continues to grow and accept new missions each year, St. Louis and Puerto Rico are also expanding. I will not see the newest mission in Puerto Rico in my lifetime. But the Holy Ghost Fathers there are so grateful for the Sisters who are teaching the children. It was a good decision to go to Arecibo and later to Utuado. Our mission is to be Providence and to serve the needs of the times. The call for service comes from many places these days.
In the midst of all the mission activity, the task of developing a new Rule and gaining representation in Rome continued. My energy was taxed with so many responsibilities. How silly of me to believe that once the Provincial House was built, things would settle into a routine. Not so! Surely when my term as Provincial was up in 1929, things would be less hectic. Again, not so! I was called upon to make many trips to Europe in my capacity of Consultor before the Constitutions were finally approved and the Congregation was recognized on July 16, 1935. Perhaps now, there will be time to rest. At 79, I am getting too old for such a strenuous schedule.
So, today, St. Louis , you are in my thoughts and prayers. Your Province became a reality in spite of financial and personnel shortages, regardless of challenges and roadblocks. It came about because the Community of the Sisters of Divine Providence is always hopeful, always trusting. Great things are ahead for the province of St. Louis. I wish you well.
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