Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother eager to welcome visitors
By S.L. Hansen
for the Register
With Bishop James D. Conley dedicating the chapel of their new motherhouse this summer, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother are eager to welcome more visitors to their beautiful 10-acre property in Nebraska City.
The sisters call it “God’s Garden of Grace” and have worked hard to include elements that foster prayer and a deeper understanding of the Gospel.
“We didn’t just purchase this for ourselves, but also for the people,” explained Sister Kathleen, O.S.F. “It’s their place for prayer and reflection.”
The three sisters – foundress Sister Ana Maria, Sister Kathleen, and Sister Cynthia – live their calling to “to stir into flame that gift of faith” with joy. A new motherhouse is a reflection of their charism at every turn.
When arriving to the property, one immediately notices a very large, black sign that says “Hidden Manna.” Sister Kathleen said that the sisters had it made to let people know that they can be fed spiritually at this “little oasis.”
The sisters were invited to the Diocese of Lincoln by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz in 2000. They left their previous home in Wisconsin and settled into the modest residential house that was provided for them that July.
The basement was retrofitted into a chapel, the three bedrooms into personal cells, and the living area into a welcoming space for adults who wanted to learn more about the faith. From this small house, they served the two Nebraska City parishes of St. Mary and St. Benedict, as well as Church of the Holy Spirit in Plattsmouth.
While busily serving the three parishes and two schools – Lourdes Central Catholic in Nebraska City and St. John the Baptist Elementary in Plattsmouth – the sisters saved money and prayed for a place to establish their permanent motherhouse. Their prayers were answered when a friend of the order told them about a family that was planning to sell an acreage that was just five minutes away.
“It was a gift from God that this property was available,” said Sister Kathleen. “It wasn’t even on the market yet.”
Ground was broken for the new, handicapped-accessible motherhouse in September 2020. A year later, the sisters moved in, situated on a park-like setting on a rise overlooking Nebraska City and surrounded by lush trees.
“We can look down over the bluffs of Iowa and the cornfields all around us,” Sister Kathleen said. “When anybody comes to visit us, they remark, ‘It’s so peaceful, it’s just beautiful.’”
She said that having peace and quiet is crucial for all the faithful.
“As we all know in today’s time and world, it’s very confusing, very chaotic, very busy. The focus is not really on God,” mused Sister Kathleen.
“Three years ago when we started to build, we said this has to be a place where people can come to find God and gain that sense of purpose and guidance.”
The sisters have provided a number of features to inspire prayer and spiritual growth in “God’s Garden of Grace.” Visitors can follow the 14 Stations of the Cross or walk through the Seven Sorrows Rosary path, with circular pavers encircling a large Pieta statue. To the south, a huge wooden cross faces a stone bench inscribed with the Serenity Prayer, often attributed to Saint Francis.
The sisters also designed a nearly life-size Bethlehem stable, which the Knights of Columbus helped bring to reality. Under a 6-foot wooden stable, images of the Holy Family are flanked by shepherds and wise men.
The sisters also designed a mural that was painted on a refurbished shed. This contains the story of their own ministries in the southeast Nebraska community.
A barn on the property is being renovated with the help of the Knights of Columbus for various activities and gatherings in all kinds of weather. Picnic tables provide a place for visitors to enjoy lunch. The sisters are joyfully becoming accustomed to seeing people picnicking, tossing a football or walking and praying the Stations of the Cross.
Inside the motherhouse, a classroom space was designed for 30 students, a necessity now that the sisters’ adult catechesis program has grown to three different meeting times each week with about 60 adults attending in all.
Most recently added is the newly dedicated chapel, which was completed in September 2023 and seats around 30 people. It is a beautiful place for a holy hour, adoring the Eucharistic Lord in the tabernacle. The sisters observe two holy hours a day – morning and evening – but visitors are also welcome to spend time in the chapel.
One of the most exciting parts of the new motherhouse is that the sisters now have room for additional vocations. They now have seven cells, plus two guest bedrooms that can be used by aspirants who feel called to discern a possible vocation.
“The residential home [we used to live in] was not conducive to new vocations,” Sister Kathleen admitted. “Now that we have a motherhouse, it’s as though God is saying, ‘I gave you the motherhouse, now it’s time to grow in vocations.”
This is a prayer that has always been close to the sisters’ hearts, one that they bring to adoration in front of the Tabernacle daily. They also attend various functions to introduce young women to the order and invite young women to visit.
“We’ll be doing more of that, now that the grounds are settled and the building is complete,” said Sister Kathleen. “There is nothing greater in this world than to give your life to Jesus in this way, to serve Him in this way, with daily Mass, community life, time for silence, spiritual reading, and faith enrichment. Our vocation is a true gift from God.”
All are welcome to spend some time in “God’s Garden of Grace.” The address is 347 N. 62nd Road in Nebraska City. The sisters can also be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 402-873-3052. Young women who are considering a vocation are encouraged to call the sisters to find out more.
