Bernarda Heimgartner

Bernarda Heimgartner (born Maria Anna Heimgartner, 26 November 1822 – 13 December 1863) was a Swiss religious sister and the co-founder of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Menzingen. Heimgartner founded this order alongside Theodosius Florentini OFMCap in 1844 and served as its mother superior until three months before her death. She had become a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1843 and made her vows in 1844 before establishing a new congregation.

Heimgartner's beatification process commenced in 1952 under Pope Pius XII. Pope John Paul II confirmed Heimgartner had lived a life of heroic virtue and named her as venerable on 26 March 1994.

Life Maria Anna Heimgartner was born on 26 November 1822 in Switzerland as the fourth of six children of Heimrich Josef Heimgartner (1788–1836) and Anna Maria Trüb.