PHJC Sesquicentennial Quilt 1868 - 2018

This quilt was commissioned in honor of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Poor Handmaid presence in America.

Missioned by Catherine Kasper, the foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, the first eight German Poor Handmaid Sisters sailed to the United States on the Pereyre in 1868.

The hardy linden tree, with Catherine Kasper at its sturdy roots, represents the life of the American PHJC community.

The tree has grown many branches bearing the fruit of over 300 ministries of Poor Handmaid service and presence, touching countless lives during the past 150 years.

Also nestled in the branches are the Associate and Fiat Spiritus Communities who share the PHJC charism as the two other expressions in the Spiritual Family of Catherine. The small tree, grown from the seed of the United States, is the Mexico foundation established in 1988 by the American province.

State flowers bordering the quilt name the 16 states in which PHJCs have ministered. The Holy Spirit hovers over this unfolding Poor Handmaid story with the continuing inspiration and guidance for today that Catherine Kasper depended on and called “the voice within.”