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 Catholic group of nuns based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were started by Henriette DeLille in 1837. 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.
This group was the second Black religious order created in the United States. The first was the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore, Maryland. That group was founded by Mother Mary Lange.
Contents
History of the Sisters
Around 1829, Henriette DeLille joined Juliette Gaudin and Josephine Charles. Juliette was from Haiti. They started working to share their faith with enslaved people and free persons of color in New Orleans.
Around 1836, they formed their first group. It was called the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was New Orleans' first religious group for women of color.
Their everyday clothing 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. They learned how to live in a formal religious community.
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 damaged. It was fixed and 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 children who had no parents. They even taught enslaved people. This was against the law in Louisiana at that time.
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 the leader, or "mother superior." She took the name Sister Mary Theresa. But 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 nun habits in public. In 1887, the bishop approved their official rules.
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 Chef Menteur Boulevard in New Orleans East.
Current Work
The Sisters of the Holy Family still do their original work. They teach 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 help with church care and education. They work in Opelousas, Lafayette, and Ville Platte in Louisiana.
Organization and Membership
The Sisters of the Holy Family is a special kind of religious group. Their main house is in New Orleans. In 2015, there were 96 sisters in the group.
The order's main office is near their school. Their mission statement explains their goals: "We share the spirit of Henriette Delille with everyone. We bring comfort to children, the elderly, the poor, and those without power. This is especially true for people of African descent. We want to fight against racism and all unfairness. We do this by sharing our faith and through education."
Legacy and Impact
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has items from Black Catholic groups. This includes 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 has a small collection about the Sisters of the Holy Family's history.
In Popular Media
The actress Vanessa Williams produced a TV movie in 2000. It was called The Courage to Love. The movie was about Henriette Delille, and Vanessa Williams played her.
See also
In Spanish: Hermanas de la Sagrada Familia de Nueva Orleans para niños
