History

Early History

Mother Alphonse Maria was born Elizabeth Eppinger on September 9, 1814 in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, in France. Her rural village of Niederbrönn, which means “small spring,” witnessed many hardships. Here the sick suffered at home - isolated and without proper care.

Young Elizabeth’s heart was moved with compassion by her personal experience of such conditions and their effect on human lives. Her one desire was to relieve the cares which overwhelm people during times of poverty and illness, by providing the means for health and wellness, enabling them to experience God’s redeeming love for them.

Elizabeth also desired to become a religious. However, few active communities shared her special vision of combining religious life with care of the sick poor in their homes. This radical concept would cause her to become not only a pioneer in the field of health care, but also a visionary in religious life. On September 10th of 1849, Elizabeth Eppinger received the habit and officially took the name of Sister Alphonse Maria.

Through the love and labor of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger and her Sisters in the years that followed, the Congregation was called to serve throughout Eastern Europe. Today, in many different ways, thousands of people across five continents live the legacy of Elizabeth Eppinger, expressing the healing presence of Jesus in a suffering world, by providing holistic health care and social services animated by faith and prayer.

Modern History

The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer came to the United States in 1924, on the feast of St. Joseph, at the request of the Xaverian School Brothers in Baltimore. A second group of Sisters arrived in 1926 to further their apostolate in America by providing domestic services to the Augustinian Seminarians at Villanova College. When a third group arrived in November 1928 they were able to staff a home in Staten Island as well as establish their “house on Fifth Street” in Philadelphia. Over the years, the Sisters would spread the mission of Mother Alphonse Maria to over five Dioceses in the United States.

Once established on Fifth Street, the Sisters were able to continue in their ministry as visiting nurses. Through their dedication and selflessness, they became known to many people of the area. Their nursing skills came to the attention of the Drueding family who owned a leather-tanning factory in North Philadelphia. The Drueding’s asked the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer to staff the infirmary for their workers and families. When the Drueding factory eventually closed, the Sisters continued to assist the many retired, aging, former employees by converting the hospital into a nursing home. As the population in the neighborhood changed and fewer residents lived at the nursing home, the Sisters took on a new challenge.

When the Drueding building closed as a nursing home, the Drueding family bequeathed the property to the Sisters in gratitude for their many years of service. In 1987 Drueding Center/Project Rainbow opened as a residence for homeless women and their dependent children. Today, Drueding Center/Project Rainbow is a model of excellence and success for other similar projects. The women, who enter from the streets, leave at the end of their time, self-sufficient and able to provide a decent home for their children. Many graduates of the program have returned to work at Drueding Center/Project Rainbow or to serve as mentors for the new women entering the program.

Today in the United States, the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer minister primarily in health care and social service, bringing the healing presence of Jesus to all who suffer in mind, body or spirit. They are the sponsoring congregation of Holy Redeemer Health System and serve in various positions within the health system to ensure the continuation of the vision of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger. Sisters of the Holy Redeemer are also present in Germany and Tanzania where their work includes education as well as health care. No matter what aspect of ministry a Sister of the Holy Redeemer works in, she brings a spirit of prayerfulness, a healing presence and the hope of Jesus the Redeemer to all whom she encounters.