Sisters of the Holy Family (Louisiana) facts for kids
Sisters of the Holy Family, 1899
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| Abbreviation | SSF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1837 |
| Founder | Henriette DeLille |
| Type | Religious institute |
| Location | |
| Website | SistersOfTheHolyFamily.com |
The Sisters of the Holy Family (SSF) are a group of Catholic nuns from African-American backgrounds. They are based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They started in 1837. Their founder was a woman named Henriette DeLille. At first, they were called the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They changed their name to Sisters of the Holy Family in 1842.
They were the second group of Black nuns to be founded in the United States. The first group was the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore, Maryland.
Contents
The Sisters' Early History
Around 1829, Henriette DeLille joined Juliette Gaudin and Josephine Charles. Juliette was from Haiti. They started helping enslaved people and free persons of color in New Orleans. Around 1836, they formed a group called the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was New Orleans' first group for women of color.
Their unofficial uniform was a simple blue dress. Bishop Antoine Blanc did not let them wear traditional nun habits. This was because they were women of color.
Becoming the Sisters of the Holy Family
The group officially became the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1842. They were a local church group. A white French woman named Marie Jeanne Aliquot helped them. She could not join their group because of segregation laws. The Religious of the Sacred Heart taught Henriette, Juliette, and Josephine about religious community life.
A group of free people of color, the Association of the Holy Family, gave money to help. They helped start the Hospice of the Holy Family. This place cared for elderly, sick, and poor people. Today, it is called the Lafon Nursing Facility. It was the first and oldest Catholic nursing home in the United States. The sisters cared for sick and elderly women in their house.
After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the Lafon Nursing Facility was fixed. It reopened in 2010. It still provides nursing care today.
Education and Vows
In 1850, the Sisters started a school for girls. They also provided a home for orphans. The sisters taught enslaved people, even though Louisiana law made it illegal to educate slaves.
On November 21, 1852, the three women made private promises to God. Bishop Antoine Blanc did not allow women of color to make public promises.
Father Etienne Rousselou was the group's advisor. He named DeLille as their leader, called the mother superior. She took the name Sister Mary Theresa. However, everyone still called her Mother Henriette.
Their school, St. Mary's Academy (SMA), opened in December 1867. It was on Chartres Street.
In 1876, the sisters were finally allowed to wear their habits in public. In 1887, the bishop approved their official rules for living as nuns.
The academy moved to the Quadroon Ballroom in 1881. In 1921, the sisters took over a school for children of color. This school had been run by the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament.
In 1965, St. Mary's Academy moved to a new location. This was on Chef Menteur Boulevard in New Orleans East.
Modern Ministries
The Sisters of the Holy Family still focus on their original work. They educate young people and care for the elderly and the poor. They have missions in Louisiana, Texas, California, Washington, D.C., and Belize. The sisters also work in churches and schools in Opelousas, Lafayette, and Ville Platte. These towns are in the Diocese of Lafayette.
How the Sisters Are Organized
The Sisters of the Holy Family is a special kind of religious group. It is called a "congregation of pontifical right." This means it is directly under the Pope's authority. Their main house, called the motherhouse, is in New Orleans. In 2015, there were 96 sisters in the group.
The Sisters' main office is very close to their school. Their mission statement explains their goals: "We share the spirit of Henriette Delille with God's people. We bring comfort to children, the elderly, the poor, and those without power. This is especially true for people of African descent. We work to fight against racism, unfairness, and poverty through teaching and sharing our faith."
Sisters' Legacy and Impact
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has historical items from Black Catholic communities. These items include things from the Sisters of the Holy Family.
Some Sisters went to Xavier University of Louisiana. They also worked with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Because of this, Xavier University's Archives & Special Collections has a small collection about the Sisters of the Holy Family's history.
The Sisters in Popular Media
The actress Vanessa Williams produced a TV movie in 2000. It was called The Courage to Love. This movie was about Henriette Delille. Vanessa Williams also played the main role in the film.
See also
In Spanish: Hermanas de la Sagrada Familia de Nueva Orleans para niños
