Five Franciscan Nuns

Unfortunately, not much is known about the five Franciscan nuns that drowned in the wreck of the SS Deustchland, sisters Henrica Fassbender, Aurea Badziura, Briggitte Damhorst, Norberta Raincober, and Barbara Hultenschmidt. The sisters lived their short lives—most of them were in their twenties—quietly and modestly in the Franciscan convent of Salzkotten, Prussia (now Germany), under the guidance of Mother Clara Pfaender, founder of the congregation.

After the declaration of the Falk Laws, which limited the ability of Catholic orders to carry on their work in Protestant Prussia, and in response to the need for nursing care in the American Provinces of the congregation, Mother Clara selected the five sisters to embark on a voyage that would take them to Saint Louis, Missouri.

On December 2nd, the sisters left the convent in Salzkotten for Bremerhaven, where they would sail abroad the SS Deutschland and be forever lost during the harrowing night of December 6th, 1875. The bodies of sisters Barbara, Aurea, Norberta and Briggitte were found and given burial on December 13th, 1875. The body of sister Henrica was never recovered.

Before departing from Salzkotten, sister Henrica wrote a poem titled “Lebe wohl!!!” (Farewell) for Mother Clara:

You can explore the Wheaton Franciscan Archives for more information on the sisters and the shipwreck.