Since 1980, St. Francis Day Care Center has provided a safe, faith-filled, and nurturing environment for young children. Operated by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, we partner with families to help each child grow in faith, character, and learning.
The American Province began in poverty with many hardships. In St. Louis, Father Dunne was looking for Sisters to staff and operate Newsboys Home, an institution for unwanted and neglected boys. The Sisters arrived on December 27, 1923 but soon realized that they did not have the training to do this work. The next year negotiations began for the Sisters to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, Illinois. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner Franciscan house in the United States, renamed Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. By the turn of the century, this humble beginning, with five German Franciscan Sisters, would grow to 108 Sisters in fifteen houses in six states in America and over forty Sisters in twelve convents in Brazil.
Now in the third millennium, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, like St. Francis, have listened and have heard God’s call to take an active part in rebuilding His Church. The Sisters, looking on Him Whom they have pierced, take the charism entrusted to them and strive to make His merciful love visible through their service to others in a variety of apostolic activities – hospital work, care of the elderly, education, day care, religious education, parish work, and social services. In the spirit of Mother M. Anselma, the Sisters continue to seek to know God’s Will for them as they strive to serve His people.
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George began our American Province over 100 years ago with many hardships and in poverty. In response to Father Dunne’s search for Sisters to staff and operate Newsboys Home in St. Louis (an institution for unwanted and neglected boys), our Sisters arrived on December 27, 1923 from Thuine, Germany.
Soon recognizing that they were not trained for this work, they began negotiations to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, Illinois. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner Franciscan house in the United States and renamed Nazareth Home to Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. By the turn of the century, this humble beginning, with five German Franciscan Sisters, would grow to 108 Sisters in fifteen houses in six states in America and over forty Sisters in twelve convents in Brazil.
Over 150 years since our founding in Germany, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George continue in the example of St. Francis, listening and responding to God’s call to rebuild His Church. In “looking on Him Whom they have pierced” (John 19:37), the Sisters bring the charism entrusted to them into the world by striving to make His merciful love visible. The Sisters make Christ’s merciful love known through their service to others in a variety of apostolic activities – healthcare, care of the elderly, education, day care, religious education, parish work, and social services.
In the spirit of Mother M. Anselma, the Sisters continue to seek to know God’s Will for them as they strive to serve His people.
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George first came to Alton, Illinois, in 1923 from their Motherhouse in Thuine, Germany, to serve in education and healthcare.
Over the decades, their ministry expanded to meet the needs of the community, growing from five German Sisters to more than 100 Sisters in convents across the United States.
In 1980, the Sisters opened St. Francis Day Care Center to provide loving care for children and vital support for working families.
Looking on Him Whom they have pierced, the Sisters embrace the charism entrusted to them and strive to make Christ’s merciful love visible through their service in many various areas: hospital work, care of the elderly, education, child care, religious education, parish ministry, and social services.
The American Province began in poverty with many hardships. In St. Louis, Father Dunne was looking for Sisters to staff and operate Newsboys Home, an institution for unwanted and neglected boys. The Sisters arrived on December 27, 1923 but soon realized that they did not have the training to do this work. The next year negotiations began for the Sisters to purchase Nazareth Home, a residence for the elderly, in Alton, Illinois. On April 1, 1925, the Sisters moved to Alton, thus establishing the first Thuiner Franciscan house in the United States, renamed Saint Anthony’s Infirmary. By the turn of the century, this humble beginning, with five German Franciscan Sisters, would grow to 108 Sisters in fifteen houses in six states in America and over forty Sisters in twelve convents in Brazil.
Now in the third millennium, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, like St. Francis, have listened and have heard God’s call to take an active part in rebuilding His Church. The Sisters, looking on Him Whom they have pierced, take the charism entrusted to them and strive to make His merciful love visible through their service to others in a variety of apostolic activities – hospital work, care of the elderly, education, day care, religious education, parish work, and social services. In the spirit of Mother M. Anselma, the Sisters continue to seek to know God’s Will for them as they strive to serve His people.
director@stfrancisdaycare.org
director@stfrancisdaycare.org
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At St. Francis Day Care Center, our mission to the children is to provide a nurturing environment that fosters holistic growth.
Guided by our Catholic faith, we prioritize their physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and intellectual development. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness and encourage them to grow and thrive in every aspect of their lives, supporting their journey with love and guidance
Our vision at St. Francis Day Care Center is to serve as a beacon of love, support, and educational excellence within our community
We aspire to establish a nurturing environment where the unique talents of each child are recognized, honored, and nurtured while upholding our commitment to Catholic values. Through this holistic approach to child development, we endeavor to empower every child entrusted to our care to flourish and thrive in all aspects of life.
St. Francis Day Care Center has been established for your child. A child is a gift of God to you and to the world. God loves your children
You love your children, and we love your children. Christ said, “Let the little children come to Me for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Luke 18:16). To you we say with His words: “Let the children come to us while you are working, and when your child returns to you, we hope he or she will be more loved, more loving, and happier every day”.
Each child in our daycare center is recognized as an individual whose gender, ability differences, personal privacy, choice of activities, cultural, ethnic, and religious background shall be respected. We want to provide the environment, time, and materials for joyful play, which we believe is the basis for developing skills in a child. We want to help your child to grow spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically by providing an environment that will stimulate and create interest. We want to encourage and give many occasions for your child to explore the mystery of God’s creation through nature and other materials, helping him or her to be at home in this world. The Center will offer ample opportunity for your child to grow in openness, trust, and concern for those around him or her. For the total well-being of your child, we look forward to a good relationship between you, the parents, and our employees in the Center.
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