MOTHER FRANCISCA  FEER

Francisca was born on March 25, 1899 at Rain, Canton Luzern, Switzerland. Endowed with the qualities of sensitivity, compassion, self sacrifice and love, she heard God calling her for a higher purpose. She joined the Society on July 30, 1922, and made her commitment on June 21, 1925. As the call for volunteers for the mission came, she responded promptly.

Mother Dormann recognized in her the right blend of spirit and aptitude for the great and demanding tasks of the mission. After the initial language study, she took up nursing care in the Government hospital at Rajahmundry. She plunged into the miserable life of the poor. Often night shelter was the bullock cart in which she travelled. Many a time she was out with a medical kit unmindful of whether it was day or night. She wrote: “… Knowing the worth of a single soul, I don’t mind having to come to India even for just one soul… While carrying out our duties we try to keep in mind that our main aim is to bring people to the reality of the only one God.”

Under the leadership of Mother Francisca, an old house was purchased in Bheemunipatnam in 1930; and after some modifications it became the first house of the Sisters in India- the Mother house of the Mission. Her motherly heart soon recognized the plight of many poor and orphaned children and started an orphanage. Knowing that education alone can transform the lives of those poor children, she took the daring step in establishing a school. The education ministry of the Society was thus born. Her birthday is celebrated as 'Literacy Day' in all our educational institutions. It was Mother Francisca who took the initiative to promote local vocations. The life of Mother was a life of selfless giving. She lived heroically, loved gently, and served tirelessly. She was deeply spiritual and spent long hours in prayer before the Eucharistic Lord. Her saintly soul flew back quietly to her Lord at the age of 77 in January 1976. An unpretentious little woman with a big heart carved out a niche for herself in the hearts of her Sisters with her motherly love, gentle spirit and her love for the poor.