FRANCISCANS OF THE MOST HOLY HEART OF JESUS OF JOLIETTE. – They were founded in 1876 at Avila, Indiana (U.S.A.), by several nuns who had come from Germany; in 1885 these formed an independent institute, which was approved by the Holy See in 1898 and affiliated with the Franciscan Order in 1905. The nuns devote themselves to the care of the sick, the elderly, and orphans, to teaching, etc. There are 592 religious in 26 houses.
BIBL.: Acta O. F. M., 36 (1917), p. 81. Cesario van Hulst