The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-01-10
St. Theresa's Parish.


of Rev. Il. J. Kenny, an active and Jealous
priest, ably and efficiently assisted by Rev.
Father Allen. This parish is the most in
teresting in New Orleans in the matter of
charitable institutions. Indeed, the church
itself is but dependency of the Camp
street Orphan Asylum, the best known
and most celebrated of all tho charities of
the South.
FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
This renowned institution was founded
by Sister Regis in the year 1910. She lad
been for some time connected with the Poy-
dras Asylum, in joint control with the Pro-
testant managers, when her situation was
rendered SO unpleasant that she, with her
assistant Sisters, was obliged to retire from
the connection. Taking with her six of the
Catholic orphans, she initiated a separate
establishment in a building near the levee,
gratuitously furnished by the charity of Jo-
seph Kennedy, Esq. On taking possession
of this house, Sister Regis had not five dol
lars in the world, and the first meal had to
be obtained through the kindness of neigh
bols.
This was in 1886. Four years afterward
Sister Regis, with six other Sisters of
Charity and one hundred and nine orphans
took possession of the spacious and extern
sive property where they and their success
ors have ever since been. The ground
upon which these buildings stand was given
by Madame L. Foucher and her brother,
Mr. F. Sau1et, with the single stipulation
that chapel for public worship should be
built and maintained on the premises. That
chapel is now known as St. Theresa's
Church.
Up t. this date the institution has admit
ted 2l55 inmates, and its average number of
orphans at time is about 200. They are
admitted at any age from seven to twelve,
being sent to the Infant Asylum when
younger than seven years, and transferred
to the St. Elizabeth Asylum upon attaining
the age of fourteen.
INFANT ASYLUM.
This institution, situated at the corner of
Race and Magazine streets, was established
in 1858 by Sister Regis. It's inmates num-
Der generally over one hundred, and are
transferred to the Camp street Asylum as
ohSJ he'esAu oOSOL CdIS VI SiSC. ueIc are
generally some twenty of these babes so
young that they require the care of wet
nurses at an expense of ten dollars per
month each, thus making an important item
of outlay of about 5000 monthly. One in
stance is recalled of an infant, whose nurse
bill amounted to one hundred and fifty dol
lars before its frail constitution became suf-
ficiently robust to dispense with such care.
Where all the money comes from to main
tain these little waits and estrays in the
comfort of children belonging to families of
independent circumstances, is one of those
mysteries which charity alone can compre-
bend.
ST. sIMEoN's SCHOOL
Is also an offshoot of the mother house on
Camp street. Originally organized by Sis
ter Regis, at the corner of Prytan and Clio
streets, as free school, it was removed to
the present location on Annunciation street
before the war. Owing to the paralyzing
effects of that struggle, and the necessity of
sending off some of the Sisters to accompa-
ny the Southern army, the institution was
necessarily closed for a season. Upon re-
opening the house, it was found that debts
had been accommodating SO rapidly as to rem
der it impracticable to carry on the free
system for the time being, and consequent
ly the present pay school was organized.
ST. ELIzABETH's ASYLUM.
Though not located within the parish of
st. Theresa, this institution is most init
mately connected with its charities, and
| cannot we'll be omitted from any sketch of
those great works Of which it is one of the
chief fruits. 1t was founded by Sister Re-
gis also, in the year 1854, though the pres
emit handsome structure was not erected
until several wears afterwards This estab-