Who They Are

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA) has advanced social justice for over 150 years. They serve communities in need in the United States and Nicaragua with hospitality and compassion.

The congregation

Participate[s] in the mission of Christ by joyful service in the Church, always aware that we, too, are among the needy and are enriched by those we serve.

Rooted in this commitment to joy and empathy, they promote systemic change and seek to uplift the economically disadvantaged. They also empower women in the Church and in society. These activities are guided by their core values of collaboration, inclusivity, and mutuality.

Their Story

In 1858, Father Caspar Rehrl founded the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes in Barton, Wisconsin. He was an Austrian missionary who believed that immigrant children needed a Christian education.

Several women joined the convent in the early days, but life on the frontier wasn’t easy. At one point, only a single sister remained in the congregation. The community slowly grew, and in 1864, they elected seventeen-year-old Mary Agnes Hazotte as general superior.

Mother Agnes and Father Rehrl soon clashed over their competing philosophies. In 1870, Mother Agnes led the community to Fond du Lac to continue their traditional religious life. As new sisters joined, the congregation was able to open its first school and staff the Leo House, a house of hospitality for German immigrants.

In 1896, the CSA opened a hospital in Fond du Lac. Their healthcare ministry quickly grew to meet the community’s needs. Within three decades, the sisters had opened four hospitals, a home for the aged, and a nursing school.

The sisters also developed a close and enduring relationship with the land. In 1898, the congregation bought two farms in Fond du Lac, which grew food for their patients and the motherhouse. Today, they lease around 110 acres of this property for sustainable agricultural fields.

Along with hospitals and farms, the sisters established several schools in Wisconsin and abroad. In 1929, they founded St. Mary’s Springs Academy near Fond du Lac.

However, the sisters were barred from earning teaching degrees from state institutions, because Wisconsin outlawed wearing habits in public schools. In response, they founded Marian College in 1936 on their own terms. This private women’s college became coeducational in the 1970s and is now called Marian University.

In 1945, the sisters expanded their ministries to Nicaragua. Working alongside the Capuchin friars, they developed a clinic and a school to serve the Miskito people.

The congregation achieved another key milestone in 1990 when they created the Justice, Peace, and Ecology ministry. It raises awareness of environmental and social injustices, including climate change and the death penalty.

Today, the sisters remain committed to promoting social justice and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. They focus on

Issues regarding the dignity of persons, human rights, and justice; the need for structural change; efforts at “simplicity of life,” and a greater appreciation of the gifts of creation.

Contributions and Legacy

The CSA has a long history of healthcare ministry. They established several hospitals in Wisconsin and Kansas, along with a clinic in Nicaragua. The congregation also sponsored Agnesian Healthcare until 2018.

Continuing the work of Father Rehrl, the sisters also empower disadvantaged communities through education. They currently sponsor Marian University, a Catholic liberal arts college with approximately 2,000 students. Throughout their history, the congregation has also founded several schools in Wisconsin and Nicaragua.

Conservation is another vital aspect of their mission. In 2023, the Catholic Climate Covenant awarded the sisters a “U.S. Laudato Si’ Champions Award” for their environmental activism.

As part of their climate efforts, CSA has transformed its property into a refuge for plants and animals, complete with solar panels. In 2022, the sisters established a conservation easement that permanently protects 237 acres of land.

The congregation frequently hosts environmental education events, including bird walks and forest bathing. These activities encourage people to contemplate the beauty of nature and learn more about Wisconsin’s habitats. Visitors can also take self-guided solar tours and explore the conservation easement.

Through these educational opportunities, the congregation advances its mission of “deepening our community’s recognition of the sacred interdependence of creation and our place in the web of life.”