Structure. The St. Clare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation sponsored by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice, Our Lady of Hope Province (“The Felician Sisters”).
The Foundation was created in 2023 to continue the tradition of the Felician Sisters serving the S. Illinois community which started back in 1939 and create an enduring way to partner with other community leaders in deepening our collective commitment to the community.
Purpose. The Foundation works in partnership with community collaborators to provide needed funding to address unmet social and community health needs.
The St. Clare Foundation is dedicated to improving the health and social well-being in the Marion, Jefferson, and surrounding communities, with a special emphasis on the prevention of mental health and substance abuse issues, particularly in youth and adolescents.
Sponsorship. The St. Clare Foundation is a Catholic ministry sponsored by the Felician Sisters of North America, Our Lady of Hope Province ("The Felician Sisters"). Through sponsorship, the Felician Sisters give support and the use of its name and reputation to a ministry as it carries out its mission in accord with its values and those of the Roman Catholic Church.
Felician Sisters of North America
The Felician Sisters of North America are a congregation of women religious, inspired by the spiritual ideals of their Foundress Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska and Saint Francis of Assisi. The Felician Sisters live in community, dedicating their lives to God and the Church—always striving to live and share the Gospel message through lives of prayer and service as they cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world.
Pioneers of social services, the Felician Sisters sponsor more than 50 ministries throughout North American and Haiti and continue to "serve where you are needed" as Blessed Mary Angela called on them to do. Learn more about their work throughout North America at www.feliciansistersna.org
The Felician Sisters are Pioneers. Leaders. Trailblazers.
Serving where needed since their arrival in North America in 1874, Felician Sisters have led the way in building the social service landscape.
Serving those in need, supporting refugees, providing education, fighting injustice, caring for the sick, sharing spiritual wisdom, empowering women, defending the planet, advocating for peace, fostering community and offering hope — by following Blessed Mary Angela’s direction to “serve where you are needed.”
Blessed Mary Angela, who founded the order of the Felician Sisters in Poland in 1855, was inspired by the lives and spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare, and Saint Felix of Cantalice, who were devoted to simplicity, prayer, and service to all in need. This model was adopted for the community life of the Felician Sisters.