The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-17

REGARDING IT'S PUHPOSE-IHE
PRESERVATION cLAss-TH II e
PENITENTs-THE MAGDALENS
THE BOOK OF THE RENEFAc-
ToRs-THE PRESSING NEEDS
OF THE COMMUNITY.
(Written Specially for The Catholic
BuIIetin.)
How many are there, even among
the Catholics of st. Paul, who are
aware Of the fact that, on May 21,
the Sisters of the Good Shepherd will
round out the forty-fifth anniversary
of their residence in this city? And
yet, such is the case. For almost
half century they have carried on
their noble work of charity, minister
ing to the temporal and spiritual needs
of girls and young women who have
wandered from the path of virtue,
reclaiming many through the per-
suasive influence of a charity and help
fulness that know no bounds, and lead
ing favored few to heights of holi-
ness which the world deems impos-
sible of attainment by those who have
fallen even to the lowest depths of
misery and sin.
It seems strange that religious
community engaged in such noble
work without compensation and with
out regard to class, condition or creed,
should be so little known to the people
among whom they live and labor
While the Sisters seek no earthly re
ward or recognition, the fruit Of their
Iabors should speak more eloQuently
than words to the benef1ciaries Of theil
activity; and yet, few know the work
the Sisters of the Good Shepherd are
doing and fewer still appreciate it al
it's true value.
Although the Sisters of the GooG
Shepherd belong to a comparatively
young community, they number 1856!
religious and have 255 houses through
out the world with a total of 5O,82;
inmates. The parent institute, known
as Our Lady of Charity of the Coco
Shepherd of Angers," received eccles
iastical appreciation on April 8, 1885
from Pope Gregory XVI. 1t is &
branch, or outgrowth, of the Ordel
of Our Lady of Charity of the Ref
uge" founded by the Blessed JohI
Eudes at Caen, France, in 1641. The
distinction between the primitive
order and it's offspring is one of ad
ministration only. In the former, eacf
house or foundation is independent
while in the latter there is a Mother
house with which the subordinate
houses are affiliated. The Mother
house at Angers was founded in 1872!
by the Venerable Mother Mary Eu
phrasia Pelletier, who governed the in
stitute as it's first Mother General fol
thirty-three years prior to her deatr
on April 20, 1868.
Established in ST. Paul Since 1868
One of the last acts of her holy
career was to approve the establish
ment of a House of the Good Shep
herd in the Diocese of st. Paul and tt
name its Superioress. The application
was sent to her through Mother Mary
of the Sacred Heart Tourville, of the
st. Louis Provincial House, acting OF
representations made by the present
Archbishop of st. Paul, then Father
Ireland. Immediately thereafter prep
arations were made, and soon the
little band of missionary Sisters des
tined to inaugurate the work Of the
Good Shepherd in st. Paul was er
route for the new field of labor There
were four in all: Sister Mary of st
Bernard Finn; Sister Mary Of st
Dosithea Hayes; Sister Mary Of st
Francis de Sales Carey; Sister Mary
of st. Gabriel Corrigan. They reach
ed their destination on May 10, 1868
and two days later they opened theil
first institute in a modest eight-roon
frame building on the corner of Smitl
Avenue and Fort Street. Hence, Oh
the twenty-f1rst Of this month they
will have completed forty-ive years
of continual existence in this city.
/ Growth Of the Order.
The first home of the community
soon proved too small to accommodate
the Sisters and their charges. A site
was purchased on Wilkin Stree
overlooking the Mississippi River
The stone building on it was remodel
led and renovated and served to house
the Sisters and their wards for nine
years. At the end of that time still
larger quarters became imperative
The Sisters sold their property to the
Little Sisters of the Poor and pur
chased the present site Of theil
magnificent convent which is 10
Gated on a high knoll at the inter
section of Milton and Blair Streets
That portion OF the building now used
for the reformatory was first erected
and served as the temporary home oi
the Sisters and their charges. Later
ON, the main building and chapel were
constructed and are now occupied By
the Community and the Magdalens. a
separate building, erected for Tho
children OF the preservation class Il
still occupied by them. A Novitiate
- -~~~. - &n wrrww Nn~w