Thursday, January 10, 2008 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 3 Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary continue to “build bridges” he numbers of the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary instituted a Christ Child TMary may have fluctuated over the years, but their mission —to bridge Club, a girls’ sodality, several societal needs and ethnic gaps—has never wavered. The order’s founder, small schools, and a soup kitchen. the serious and devout Elizabeth Barbara Williams, knew from childhood Part of Saint Mary’s Convent that she wanted to serve God. The question was: how? Born February became a working girl’s home. 11,1868, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Williams received her education from Mother Theodore embraced this the Ladies of the Sacred Heart and from the Sisters of the Holy Family, varied ministry eagerly. second oldest society of African-American religious in the United States. “Throughout last winter,” reported At 19, Williams entered the Lissner drew up a constitution and a story in the August 15, 1931 Sisters of Saint Francis Convent received permission from Bishop issue of The Bulletin of the in Louisiana. When that order dis- Benjamin J. Keiley of Savannah Catholic Laymen’s Association of banded in 1912, she entered the to establish a religious order of Georgia, “Mother Theodore novitiate of the Oblate Sisters of black sisters. It was then that he declined to leave to any of the other sisters the work of ladling Providence in Baltimore where recruited Williams, who had pre- Mother Theodore, FHM she was received as a novice and viously experienced life in two soup in the kitchen conducted for Loretta Theresa Richards, FHM, given the name, Sister Mary religious congregations. On the poor, despite the fact that the who observes her 60th anniver- Theodore. Two years into the life October 15, 1916, she received burden of the undertaking grew sary in the order in October 2008, of an Oblate Sister, Williams was the habit of the new order and far beyond the proportions first says that, although there have still not sure that she had found took the name of Mother Mary expected and was taking an been changes, the work goes on. her true calling. In 1915, while Theodore. increasing toll of her strength.” The Sisters still operate Saint working at Trinity College in Move to New York The Bulletin article continued: Benedict’s Day Nursery in Washington, she learned that The order that Mother Theodore “At the discontinuance of this Harlem, but no longer run a sum- Father Ignatius Lissner, provincial founded, the Franciscan work, however, she was confined mer camp on Staten Island. They of the Fathers of the Society of Handmaids of the Most Pure to her bed, and became danger- do, however, operate a food African Missions, needed a reli- Heart of Mary, was to remain in ously ill a week before her death pantry on the grounds of Mount gious to found a congregation of the prejudiced-riddled south for (in August, 1931).” Loretto. Most Pure Heart of Mary black sisters in Savannah. seven years, from 1916– 1923. In Today, Mother Theodore’s sis- Convent on Staten Island was Tide of prejudice running high 1922, realizing that this prejudice ters continue her work. As with dedicated this past August 15. With the tide of prejudice was not decreasing and that voca- other religious communities, their Sisters substitute teach in Saint against blacks (and others, notably tions were not increasing rapidly, numbers are not great and their Aloysius School which they for- Catholics) running high in the Mother Theodore asked Bishop members are aging. Presently one merly staffed, volunteer on com- Georgia Legislature of the Keiley’s permission to move of three orders of predominately munity boards and teach parish day, a proposed law forbid- her community to New African-American Sisters serving religion classes. ding white teachers to York under the aegis of in this country, they now number “We are bridge builders,” Sister instruct black children Patrick Cardinal Hayes. twenty-two sisters; twenty of Loretta Theresa observes, “who threatened to join the infa- (The previous year, them professed, plus one novice realize the many needs of our mous Veasey Convent Mother Theodore had and one candidate. Their member- brothers and sisters in this country Inspection Act on the established Saint ship is more ethnically varied. and in Africa, the country from books. Schools founded by Benedict’s Day Nursery for One sister who has been in the which our people came.” Sister Father Lissner in Georgia children of the poor in the order for twenty-five years is Rita H. DeLorme Loretta Theresa says the sisters and staffed by Franciscan Harlem area.) By 1923, from the Philippines. Another sis- consider their order “a bridge Sisters of the Immaculate the sisters were able to move into ter has a French-Italian back- between white and black people in Conception would close if the bill their new residence in New York. ground. There is an Armenian sis- the church.” In the 1960s, when became law. When two African- In 1929, a Staten Island novitiate ter and there are three sisters from many of her classroom students American Congregations in the was established for training of Africa; two, from Nigeria and a were white, Sister says she felt south—the Oblate Sisters of those entering the order. candidate from Kenya. that she was building a bridge Providence and the Holy Family In addition to Saint Benedict’s The work goes on between the races “by helping Sisters—could supply no help, Day Nursery, the Handmaids of Congregation Minister Sister them accept and respect our peo- ple.” Archdiocese of Atlanta to Celebrate Dr. Martin Though Harlem itself is chang- ing and Saint Benedict’s Day Luther King, Jr., January 19-20 Nursery classes now include a he Office for Black Catholic Ministry of the Bruce Wilkinson, pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament diverse ethnic and class mix, the TArchdiocese of Atlanta has announced the 2008 Catholic Church in southwest Atlanta, will deliver the mission of the Franciscan Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, to be held January homily. Handmaids of the Most Pure 19-20. The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Guide Our Heart of Mary, founded in The annual observance of the King Holiday will Feet into the Way of Peace,” taken from the Gospel of Savannah to thwart a law that begin with the 24th annual Eucharistic Service com- Luke (1:78-79). never passed, remains the same. memorating the Christian witness of Dr. King on On January 20, the celebration will continue at 3:00 They are still peacefully building Saturday, January 19, at 1:00 p.m. at the Shrine of the p.m. with the 6th Annual MLK Youth Celebration at bridges. Immaculate Conception, 48 Martin Luther King, Jr. Saint Peter Claver Regional Catholic School. Drive in downtown Atlanta. For more information contact: Charles O. Prejean, Columnist RITA H. DELORME The public is invited to participate in this solemn Sr., Director, Office for Black Catholic Ministry, 404- is a volunteer in the Diocesan occasion. The Principal Celebrant for the Eucharistic 888-7848; e-mail: [email protected]. Archives. She can be reached Service will be Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. Father at [email protected]..