The Sisters of St. Francis began their mission of education at St. Mary's in 1900 and one hundred years of students have benefited from their manifold gifts. The century began with a small number of German nuns who came to the newly settled Nebraska prairie with a commitment to Catholic education. They lived in borrowed quarters with wooden crates for furniture. They worried aloud to Father Cassidy - why would he want German sisters in an Irish community! He replied that he did not care who or what they were if only they were good teachers! Throughout the century they have manifestly fulfilled that expectation.

From the very earliest days the Sisters instilled the discipline of knowledge, the inner sense of human dignity and the value of service to others. Over 195 Sisters of St. Francis have served at St. Mary's. The example of their lives was like heaven in the lives of countless others. Inspired by the example of the sisters who taught them, sixty-three young women who graduated from St. Mary's chose to enter religious life. Many of those sisters then returned to St. Mary's and continued their mission to educate where they began. Also over the years eight young men whose vocations were nurtured at St. Mary's were called to the priesthood.

The last quarter of the century has brought about many changes. The number of sisters has declined and gradually they prepared the way for lay teachers and administrators to continue their mission of education.

Even though the Sisters of St. Francis are no longer active in our midst as they once were, our lives are changed for the better for having been blessed by their presence. The Sisters of St. Francis planted seeds that have grown for a hundred years and will continue to grow and nourish the lives of future generations of students at St. Mary's.