The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-19
SISTERS OF THE SHEPHERD.
4 Sanctuary for Penitents-An Institution
that Does Great Good.

.'My horse is little lame, and I must drive
slowly" said Father Bessonies to the reporter,
but if you wish to see the House of the Good
Shepherd will take ;;,ou.a
There is no charitable institution in the city
about which so little is known as this one. 1t is
in charge of Mother Superior Ursula and fifteen
sisters of the order of the Good Shepherd, and
they have fifty three inmates girls of ages
ranging from fourteen years to women of middle
age most Of their charges being under twenty
five years old. Some of these are wayward
girls who are sent there by their parents to save
them from the paths Of vice which their feet
would otherwise tread; others who have already
experienced the bitterness of sin, and crushed
and penitent have come to the sisters Of their
own accord to find a sanctuary. Day after day,
year after year, these sisters have gone on in
their work Of saving the wayward and reclaim
| Ing the fallen. Many of the girls, after reclaim
| alton, have places found for them where they
can work and earn their living. These girls
saved by the ministratons of the sisters rarely
fall into evil ways again, but lead pure and
useful lives. This work has been done quietly
and effectively, and is not blazoned in vulgar
statistics.
The House of the Good Shepherd is on the
south side of Raymond street, west of Meridian
street, and is barely within the southern limits
of the city. A little distance beyond are the
white monuments of the Catholic and Hebrew
cemeteries. There is also a little burial
plot inside the six acres of ground
belonging, to the home. One sis
ter and four penitents sleep there.
There is an erroneous idea regarding these
sisters, some supposing that they are them
selves reclaimed Magdalens. They are not only not
so, but the requirements of the order are that
TO become members the applicants must always
have been of pure life, virtue in the applicant
being required beyond all else; and many of
them to do the good work they are now doing
have forsaken the allurements of society and
wealth.
There are no other six acres in Marion county
SO lndustriously cultivated these six adjoining
the Home, and nature, grateful for the care be-
slowed upon her, gives promise of an abundant
return. The reporter remembers this spot
several years ago, when its appearance did not
SUI st that any such change was possible A
line Of beautiful LON hardy poplars before the
Home stand sentinel over little park filled with
carefully trimmed beds of bright flowers En-
terlng the Home intense cleanliness and tidi-
ness is seen in everything The floors are so
clean and white that one might eat off them
without the interposition of table cloth And
so III is everywhere IN the building, from cellar
to garrett
All the inmates are kept employed. two
story building apart from the home is used as a
wash house and laundry. I'VE wash" said
Mother Ursula, "for about forty families and
some institutions One of our best patrons is
Mr. Taggart of the Union depot dining rooms
number of the girls are kept employed finishing
stockings. sewing the toe part together for the
stocking factory"
Their religious instruction is cared for There
is chapel in the Home and services are held
there, priest from the neighboring church
officiating. On Sundays when the weather is
fair there is usually procession in the grounds.
banners being carried by the participants and
the exercises consisting largely of singing There
is long grape arbor filled with great clusters of
the fruit of the vine, which will certainly be very
tempting when ripe.
Are you not bothered by boys?' inquired the
reporter DO they not commit depredations on
your fruits and vegetables"
THE boys are very good" was the reply of the
Mother Superior. 'They never disturb us in
anyway