MANSFIELD, Ohio – Sister Bernard Marie Campbell, OSF and Sister Paula Bingert, OSF both Sisters of the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, (Joliet Franciscans), will be returning to their motherhouse in Joliet, Illinois in early September. With this move, the Sisters of St. Francis will end their 144 years of continuous service to the community of St. Peter’s and Mansfield.
St. Peter’s plans to honor Sister Bernard Marie and Sister Paula and the legacy of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate with a special Celebration of Presence and Service on Sunday, August 16.
The Celebration of Presence and Service will begin at 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, followed by a reception in the Franciscan Activity Center. The Mass and reception are open to the public.
A private prayer service will also be held by the Sisters with a formal closing of the convent ceremony.
On Sunday, August 30, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., the Sisters will hold their Birthday Bash, an annual birthday celebration of parishioners who are 75-years-old and older.
Sister Paula Bingert is a native of Mansfield, 1943 alumnus of St. Peter’s and joined the Sisters of St. Francis in 1947. Sister Paula returned to Mansfield in 1976 as the elementary school librarian. In 1980, she began her work preserving the heritage and archives for St. Peter’s. When Sister Paula retired from the school, she continued her work in the parish Heritage Room. In 2009, the Elementary School Library was named in honor of Sister Paula.
Sister Bernard Marie Campbell is a native of Joliet, Illinois and joined the Joliet Franciscans in 1942. First assigned to St. Peter’s in 1946, Sister Bernard Marie served for nine years. In 1955, she was reassigned and spent time in Chicago and Columbus, but returned to St. Peter’s in 1963 and has remained since. Sister Bernie taught several subjects including history, algebra, religion and photography. However, most students worked with Sister Bernard Marie in the science classrooms of chemistry and physics. She taught until 1996. After retiring from teaching, Sister Bernard Marie spent 19 years working in the Development Office. In 2008, the science wing of the High School was renamed the Sister Bernard Marie Campbell Science Wing.
The Joliet Franciscans first came to Mansfield in August 1871, just three years after St. Peter’s School opened. The first two nuns were Sister Ignatius Baker and Sister Lucy Raub. Over the past 144 years, over 400 sisters have ministered to God’s people at St. Peter’s totaling over 2000 years of service. The peak was in 1965 when 33 sisters were assigned to St. Peter’s.
St. Peter’s will always be grateful for the legacy given to us by the Franciscan Sisters of Joliet.
