Sister Luca Bird's Story & Gallery
Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Luca Bird was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1854, and baptized at St. John’s Cathedral. She expressed talent as an artist early on and was assigned to a teacher at St. Rose Convent named Bernard Durward. Durward was a prominent artist in Milwaukee at the time. It was under his teaching that Sister Luca began a portrait of the Madonna that she was never able to complete.
She is written about in both “Our Community Book” and “A Franciscan History.” A scene depicting Sister Luca is written on in “Our Community Book,” “Picture Sister Luca Bird, in a corner of the kitchen, assiduously plying her brush and paints for the glory of God and our Blessed Mother. The dear Sister possessed masterful talent, but scarcely had she begun to exercise it when she was summoned, July 5, 1873, to the heavenly studio to study the divinest of Models.” Sister Luca died at the age of 19 due to tubercular consumption. She is remembered as the community’s first artist. Sister Luca entered St. Rose Convent in 1872 and professed vows on her deathbed with Mother Antonia’s permission in 1873.
The FSPA Archives Department speculates that the painting of the Madonna shown here, could be the completed painting that Sister Luca started. As shared by The Catholic University of America's University Libraries, the painting was completed by Bernard’s son Charles Durward in 1875.
+ Sister Luca Bird's Obituary
Several Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, along with FSPA affiliates and partners in mission, gathered at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Jefferson, Wisconsin, where Sister Luca Bird is buried. The gathering took place as part of a pilgrimage celebrating 175 years of FSPA ministry.
Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Luca Bird, named Syra Bird, was of Irish descent. Her parents resided in Milwaukee and belonged to St. John's Cathedral. She was their only daughter and had received good training. At her entrance into St. Rose Convent, she showed great joy at seeing the signs of poverty which she herself so ardently desired — to imitate the poverty and contempt of our seraphic Father St. Francis.
She was a good artist and then assigned to a teacher in the convent who taught her to develop further. The convent has a remembrance of her in a picture of the Madonna, which she started, but was completed by her teacher. She knew some music and was well acquainted with various handicrafts.
She was clothed on Aug. 7, 1872. Her behavior as a novice was exemplary; she was always friendly and obliging to every sister and candidate. She well understood how to mortify herself and interpret for the best every disappointment and discomfort no matter from which source they came. She was obedient and humble, simple and frank, punctual in obeying rules, gave no occasion for reproach. She was zealous in overcoming difficulties from the very beginning. The change of food went against her nature, but in this also she understood how to mortify herself; she wanted no exception, rather rejoiced at the meager fare and often remarked that everything in the convent was better than she had expected.
She had a swelling of the throat and was not in good health. A few months after the investiture, she was in a weakened condition and (tubercular) consumptive. It was believed that in another climate her health would be restored, so then in June she was sent to the convent at Jefferson, Wisconsin. She herself had the best of hopes that her health would be restored. But about two weeks later, her weakness was of such a nature that it looked as if the end were near.
Although she herself could perform no work, she remained staunch in the daily observance of the order and rule of the day and never missed attendance at holy Mass nor the community office. On July 4 permission came from Rev. Mother Antonia that Sister Luca, nearing the end, could pronounce her vows. Great was her joy. On the same day her mother surprised her with her visit. She sat in a rocking chair under the shade of a tree as her mother arrived. For a rather long time she chatted with her mother, who was almost inconsolable because of the condition of her daughter. Among other things, her mother said to her that she should put on a nicer veil. Sister Luca answered: "Tomorrow, Mother." Her feet were very swollen. The mother wanted to see them; her answer was again: "No, mother, not today, tomorrow you may see them." Furthermore, her mother asked her whether she didn't wish to be buried in Milwaukee, upon which she answered: "No, mother, up there (she pointed to the cemetery) is my place.” At last, as she was ready to lie down, her mother wanted to stay with her during the night. This also she did not grant her mother, but said: "No, mother, not today, tomorrow.”
It was decided that the next morning (Sunday) she should stay in bed, receive Holy Viaticum and the last anointing, and pronounce her vows. The entire night, the patient was quiet, made no disturbance. At 4 a.m. the sister who slept in the same room with Sister Luca heard her turn in bed, and as she thought, either in her sleep or in a dream, heard her say: "I received Holy Communion already.” After this she was quiet again and slumbered peacefully into eternity. When at 5 a.m. the sisters came to her bed to wake her and prepare her for the sacraments, they found her a corpse. It must have been between 4 and 5 a.mm. that she breathed her last. She was 19 years old and a novice 11 months minus two days.