Who We Are

1880

The birth of Casimira Kaupas

Casimira Kaupas, later Mother Maria, born in Ramygala, Lithuania, on January 6, 1880.

1897

Mother Maria Kaupas moves to the United States

Casimira Kaupas arrived in Scranton, PA, to be a housekeeper for her brother, Rev. Anthony Kaupas, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. It was during her four – year stay that Casimira saw Sisters for the first time and witnessed the poverty and spiritual needs of the Lithuanian immigrants.

1905

A new director and spiritual guide

Rev. Dr. Anthony Staniukynas consented to be the director and spiritual guide for the new congregation which Casimira agreed to found. Pope Pius X granted Bishop J.W. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg, PA, permission to establish the Congregation in his diocese.

1907

Founding of the Congregation

Congregation of the Sisters of St. Casimir is founded on August 29, 1907, at the Motherhouse of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton, PA.  The first three members professed their vows and Casimira Kaupas was named Sister Maria; Judith Dvaranauskas, Sister M. Immaculata; Antanina Unguraitis, Sister M. Concepta.

1907

Education ministry begins

The first school opens at Mount Carmel, PA, on October 7.

1911

The Motherhouse is built

The Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse was built in Chicago, IL, and served as the Congregation headquarters.  It was here where almost 500 women received their formation, pronounced their vows, and were sent forth in service to God’s people.  The sacred space of the chapel deepened the spiritual life of the Sisters through prayer, Eucharist, and solitude with God. The Motherhouse remains a symbol of stability and peace in the neighborhood.

1911

St. Casimir Academy opens

St. Casimir Academy was opened under the direction of Mother M. Gabriel, IHM, who served as its first Principal and as the first Superior of the Sisters of St. Casimir.

1913

First General Superior elected

Mother Maria Kaupas is elected first General Superior of the Sisters of St. Casimir, a position she held until her death in 1940.

1920

Back to Lithuania

Mother Maria Kaupas founded the Lithuanian Sisters of St. Casimir.

1928

Healthcare ministry begins.

Mother Maria was asked to staff Holy Cross Hospital to which she responded by preparing Sisters for the ministry of health care.

1932

Villa Joseph Marie High School opens

The high school served as a school for girls and a center for retreats, continuing education, and relaxation for the Sisters of St. Casimir teaching in the eastern states.

1932

25th Jubilee

The Sisters celebrate the 25th Jubilee of the Sisters of St. Casimir.

1937

Mother Maria expands to New Mexico

Mother Maria expanded the educational ministry to New Mexico in response to Pope Pius XI’s request to do missionary work in the United States.

1939

Holy Family Villa Nursing Home

At the request of the Lithuanian Roman Catholic Charities, Mother Maria agreed to take on the administration of the newly built Holy Family Villa Nursing Home in Lemont, IL.  This began the Congregation’s ministry in the care for the aged.

1940

Mother Maria Kaupas dies

Mother Maria Kaupas died on April 17 in the Motherhouse.  The Congregation at that time numbered 342 Sisters, staffing 33 schools, two hospitals and one nursing home.

1941

Argentina

The Sisters of St. Casimir opened a school in Avellaneda, Argentina, fulfilling the desire of Mother Maria to minister there. Two additional schools opened later in the cities of Rosario and Cordoba.

1952

Maria High School opens

Maria High School opened, continuing the tradition of St. Casimir Academy. It was able to accommodate over 1,000 girls with state of the art facilities.

1963

Time of renewal

Vatican II, 1962-1965, brought about a time of renewal within the Catholic church and religious communities.  Opportunities and challenges surfaced as Sisters began taking on new ways to address the needs of the world.  These changes brought about much tension and questioning that led to many Sisters leaving religious life, a painful reality that continued into the 1980’s.

1980

Beatification and Canonization Cause

On January 6, His Eminence, John Cardinal Cody, celebrated the opening of the “Beatification and Canonization Cause” of Mother Maria Kaupas.

1986

Mother Maria Kaupas declared “Servant of God” on May 23rd.

2007

100th Anniversary

The Sisters of St. Casimir celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of its Founding with a Mass at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.  Francis Cardinal George, OMI, presided along with many in attendance.

2010

Venerable Servant of God

The Congregation of Saints in Rome proclaimed Mother Maria Kaupas a “Venerable Servant of God” on July 1.

2012

Catalyst-Maria opened

Catalyst-Maria, a Chicago Charter School, opened at Maria High School serving girls and boys, K-12.

2012

Maria Kaupas Center

The former Maria High School Convent became home to the Maria Kaupas Center serving the students of Catalyst-Maria with a faith-based environment and robust after-school program.

2013

Holy Cross Hospital joined Sinai Health System

Holy Cross Hospital joined Sinai Health System and remains a Catholic hospital with the Sisters of St. Casimir as the sponsor of its religious identity. 

2013

Lemont, Illinois

The Sisters of St. Casimir began to relocate from the Motherhouse to Franciscan Village in Lemont, IL.

2014

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

The Sisters of St. Casimir Motherhouse was transferred to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

2014

Mother Maria Kaupas Center established

The Mother Maria Kaupas Center was established in Mount Carmel, PA.

2017

85th Anniversary of Marie High School

Villa Joseph Marie High School celebrated the 85^th anniversary of its founding.