Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare



A Community of Poor Clare Nuns, Cincinnati, ohio, usa



Praying for the needs of the Church and the World





Fact Sheet



Our History



Overview





We are a community of sisters known as the Poor Clares, the contemplative branch of the Franciscan family founded by St. Clare of Assisi in the 13th century. As Poor Clares, we take the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and enclosure. Our mission is to pray for the needs of the church, the world, and all people.


In 2012, we celebrated our 800th anniversary of our Order of Poor Clare (“OSC”) life, and in 2015, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the day the first Poor Clares took up residence in Cincinnati, at the invitation of the Minister Provincial of St. John the Baptist Province, for the purpose of forming a Poor Clare foundation and bringing the contemplative Franciscan tradition to the area.


Image of St. Clare is an icon by artist Mario Franchi, Assisi, Italy. This icon can be found in our Main Chapel



1212






On Palm Sunday, March 18, 1212, the young noble woman, Clare di Offreduccio, became the first of St. Francis of Assisi's "Poor Ladies" at Our Lady of Angels, the Portiuncula. Thousands of pilgrims continue to visit the Portiuncula each year, where the Franciscan movement began.


Image of Tile 1 of the Tavola of St. Clare (Clare receiving a palm/olive branch from the Bishop). The Tavola of St. Clare can be found outside our Main Chapel doors.





1253





On August 9, 1253, Clare became the first woman to have the Rule she wrote receive Papal approval. Clare died two days later. Clare had spent 40 years with her sisters at San Damiano living the life of the gospel. Many women wanted to follow Clare's example. During that 40 year period, 147 monasteries had been founded throughout Europe.

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1255
Two years after her death, on August 15, 1255, Clare was canonized by Pope Alexander IV.


Image of Tile 8 of the Tavola of St. Clare (the Pope visits Clare on her deathbed). The Tavola of St. Clare can be found outside our Main Chapel doors.




1875





Mother Mary Magdelene Bentivoglio was sent by Pope Pius IX to the United States to found a Poor Clare monastery. Although attempts were made in these early years, Cincinnati would not see a Poor Clare foundation for many years.

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1956


The Poor Clares in Evansville, Indiana requested Archbishop Alter of Cincinnati to permit the sisters to establish a Poor Clare monastery, but Cincinnati would have to wait another 34 years for a Poor Clare foundation.


Image is a portrait photo of Mother Mary Magdelene Bentivoglio. This portrait can be found in our Monastery classroom.




1990





On June 24, 1990, Sr. Doris Gerke, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Sr. Anna Marie Covely, Langhorne, PA, and Sr. Dianne Short, Bronx, NY, moved into St. Vivian's Parish Convent in Cincinnati. The Duncan, B.C. monastery became the sponsoring monastery for this Poor Clare Foundation.

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1991


On January 2, 1991, Rome approved the establishment of the foundation in Cincinnati.


Image is a portrait of our three Foundresses in 1990. This image is from our archives.



1996





On September 1, 1996, after many prayers, and generous donations from many bene-factors, the sisters celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony and blessing of land by Archbishop Pilarczyk for the new monastery building.


Image of Archbishop Pilarczyk blessing the land before construction of our Monastery begins. The photo is from our archives.



1998





On March 19, 1998, Archbishop Pilarczyk presided at the first Mass in the Chapel at our new Monastery on Miles Road.


Image is from our first Mass in our new Monastery. The photo is from our archives.



2002





On April 13, 2002, we celebrated our first Solemn Profession of Sr. Ann Bartko. Sr. Ann's brother, Fr. Louis Bartko, a friar with St. John the Baptist Province, was one of the concelebrants.


Image of Solemn Profession Mass of Sr. Ann at St. Clement Church, Cincinnati, Ohio. The photo is from our archives.



Our Community





We are grateful for all the many blessings we have received as we continue to live our Poor Clare way of life in Cincinnati.


Image is a photo of our community taken in our Main Chapel (Left to right: Srs. Pia, Anthony, Anna Marie, Ann, Vickie, Rita, Doris, Dianne and Luisa.) Sr. Alma is not shown here. This photo is from our archives).

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Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare



© 2017-2025 Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare
Primary Photographers: Sr. Vickie Griner, OSC and Sr. Pia Malaborbor, OSC
|1505 Miles Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231 | 513-825-7177 | fax 513-825-4071