On August 6, 1878, John Creighton wrote to Mother Maddalena for the first time. They had not yet met, as she had not yet arrived in Omaha. Mother Mary Constance made the acquaintance of Mr. Creighton when she went through Omaha on a begging tour shortly before. Mr. Creighton wrote “Your very kind letter of August 2nd was duly received... During their stay here I endeavored to sunder to them whatever assistance I could and told them that if our good Bishop O’Connor saw fit at any time to locate the order of “Poor Clare's” in our state I would donate five hundred dollars for such a good institution. I afterwards told the Sisters that in case our Bishop should do this and locate them near our City that I would also donate five or ten acres of ground near the City if it would be suitable. This, to the best of my recollection, was the proposition. My intention, dear Sisters, is to do what good I can, but you will readily see how unkind, even presumptuous my part, to make any proposition without prefacing such a proposition “with the Bishop’s consent.” … I remain Yours very truly, JOHN CREIGHTON