Regulations for the Orphanage
In October of the year 1863, the “orphan sisters,” as the people of Olpe called them, cared for forty orphans. These children were their chief concern. From the very beginning they were active in this apostolate for in this sphere of activity they feared no opposition from the other religious congregation. Consequently, it was of special concern to the superior, Sister Maria Theresia, that the orphanage be established on an adequate legal basis. That also, in retrospect, had necessitated the gift contract of Mrs. Bonzel to the Episcopal See. The pivotal point of this gift was that she succeeded in this for the benefit of the orphanage in Olpe. Therefore a suitable statute for the orphanage was an urgent task, and obviously it was framed after the visit of Mother Francis Schervier to Olpe. The document is dated August 1, 1864. Its plan followed that of Reverend Superior Schmidt’s statute for the proposed but relinquished sanatorium. It ensured corporation rights to the Sisters.
Statute for the Orphanage of the Poor Franciscans in Olpe
1. Under the title of “Poor Franciscans” a congregation of women has been formed in Olpe, the chief town of the district, whose main objective is to care for and instruct neglected and orphaned children in Olpe, and if desired in other areas also; however, other works of Christian charity are not to be excluded.
2. In admitting children, first priority is given to those of the Catholic parish and the district of Olpe. When the authorities of this district wish to admit such children, their requests should be granted as far as possible. Children from outlying areas whose instruction and education are in greatest danger are to be given the preference.
3. According to rule, children are admitted after the completion of the second year. However, urgent conditions may dispense with the age rule.
4. Admissions are granted through the decision of the superior and her council. In exceptional cases, the decision depends upon the spiritual director.
5. The children begin their elementary education at the age of six years. They attend classes in the orphanage and are taught by a qualified Sister or instructor. Girls are instructed in all the feminine arts and housekeeping: knitting, patching, sewing, washing, etc. In their free time the children are urged to engage in domestic work and lighter tasks of the garden and the fields.
6. Instruction and practical training of the children for later life come to pass in a stabilized and well-regulated house under the constant observance of ecclesiastical and also civic regulations. The congregation must keep abreast of developments to revise its instruction and education as well as the diet and rearing of children accordingly.
7. Ordinarily, children are not dismissed from the orphanage until they have completed their elementary education. However, those who remain incorrigible in spite of all counsel and endeavors to turn them to better ways and who consequently give bad example to the other children, are dismissed by the superior with the consent of the spiritual director. These children are returned to the care and watchfulness of those who had previously arranged for their admission to the orphanage.
8. The Sisters will consider it their duty to arrange for the moral well-being and favorable placement of those children leaving the institution. They will continue to regard these children as theirs and take the place of father and mother with reference to them. They will preserve contact with the children by inviting them on Sundays from time to time to visit the orphanage together with their teachers or employers to influence their further educational development. For those children who left in good standing the orphanage remains a home where they can spend their days of vacation or the intervening days in a change of employment.
9. All that pertains to the economical or the spiritual life of the Sisters is under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop, who is represented by a director.
10. For nourishment, clothing, instruction, and education of the children, the congregation utilizes the means at its disposal (cf. 12), also donations, the work of the Sisters and the children, and prospective collections. In addition, the rule prescribes an annual charge to be paid for each child accepted in the orphanage. In exceptional situations, this sum may be reduced or remitted altogether depending upon the circumstances of the congregation. If public funds are given to the congregation for specific purposes of education or charity, the institution is to render an account of expenditures to the administrative authority.
11. Together each evening the Sisters and orphans pray for their benefactors in the chapel of the institution. During the octave of All Souls they hold a solemn anniversary for all deceased benefactors of the orphanage, either in the chapel of the institution or, pending the consent of the pastor, in the Olpe parish church.
12. The Congregation of the Poor Franciscans of Olpe, organized for the care and education of orphaned and neglected children, transferred property by a legal donation to the Episcopal See in Paderborn. This property at present consists of a large house with real estate and garden valued at ten thousand dollars.
13. The superior of the orphanage functions in all legitimate civic relations and performances. All important economic negotiations of the congregation that exceed the value of one hundred dollars, such as acquiring additional property, sale of immobile property, building, borrowing, or lending capital, require the approbation of the diocesan bishop. In all such matters the congregation is also subject to civic regulations.
14. If the congregation of the Poor Franciscans of Olpe should unite with another congregation, then that congregation should likewise agree to operate the orphanage. Should this congregation, however, dissolve, or in any way be dissolved, then the diocesan bishop is empowered to transfer the operation of the orphanage to another congregation.
This statute was signed by Director Reverend Schmidt on October 5, 1864, who then sent it to the bishop for his approval, which was received on January 7, 1865.
In many respects the Statute of the orphanage mirrors exactly the existing situation in Olpe at that time. For instance, Paragraph 14 states the possibility of the Congregation of Olpe Sisters uniting with another congregation. This was not mere theory. It had a factual background. For at that time there was uncertainty that the congregation could survive on its own. Sister Maria Theresia had endeavored to unite the Olpe congregation with the Franciscans at Aix-la-Chapelle. Mother Francis Schervier had declined. She thought that an attempt should be made in Olpe, and if the going was simply impossible, then the question of union could be considered further.
Although several points refer directly to the Olpe orphanage, they have much wider significance. There is, as example, mention made of working in other places. Thought is given to expanding the apostolate. In Paragraph 1, relative to the objectives of the congregation, mention is made for the instruction and education of “neglected and orphaned children in Olpe and also in other areas, if requested.” That Perpetual Adoration is not mentioned here as the chief objective can readily be understood. The statute for the orphanage is an instrument of public and civic character. It states that “other works of charity are not excluded.” A very wise and prudent formulation! The statute of the first beginning in Olpe spoke much more directly of the special objectives