Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-06
Convent for CoIored Owes
Being to French Uprising
Many Hordships Overcome Since
Founding ITO Years Ago

and Marie Magdalene Belas, both
French. who were well educated and
who, on account Of lack of funds,
had been obliged to give up q free
school they had been teaching in
their home for long time. They
confessed to him that for more than
10 years they had wished to con-
secrate themselves to God and had
been waiting and hoping that He
would show them q way of giving
themselves to Him. Greatly en-
couraged by this enthusiastic re-
spouse to his plan, Father Joubert
decided not to confine the carrying
out OF his cherished project to these
two women. He decided to form q
religious society Of colored women,
ana the founding of the Oblate
Sisters Of Providence was well ON its
way. Two Of the four women who
were its first members were French
IN language with the customs and
the culture Of the French. A third
was from Santiago de Cuba. The
fourth. although born in Baltimore.
was the daughter Of French parents.
A house was rented and the Young
women began their noyitiate in
June. 1928. But great many dim
culties had to be overcome. The
women had to leave the house In
winch they had first moved. It
was hard to ind another and there
was little money to be had. Finally
house at ITO George street was
rented In which were taken the f,rst
VOWS ever made by colored women in
tho United States.
ihere were many rules laid down
lor these women who had decided
70 become nuns. But the first rule
was the most important of all. "The
Oblate Sisters Of Providence" read
this rule dated June S, 1929, ARE a
religious society Of virgins of color.
1nelr end Is to consecrate them
selves to God in q special manner.
not only to sanctify themselves and
tnereby secure the glory of God. but
also to work for the Christian edu-
cation OF colored children"
Approved by Archbishou.
Then the archbishop put his seal
OF approval on the new community
As follows: Having read the fore
going rules formed for the Oblate
Sisters Of Providence" said he. II
give my entire appreciation as to
their being adopted by that religious
society and at the same time highly
! approve Of 50 useful an institution
winch promises to be very benefi-
cha! TO religion and to the community
at large. Baltimore, June 5th. 1926
James, Archbishop of Baltimore
But IN spite of Archbishop Whit
nelds unqualified approval. the
women who had made their vows
We're often uneasy and discouraged.
Ihey knew that many who had been
willing to allow them to teach school
strongly objected to having them
form religious society, because
they could not bear the idea of COL
ored women forming a religious com.
munity and wearing the habit of a
nun. When Father Joubert mem
TONED this to the archbishop he dis
covered that his superior knew more
about these objections and criti-
clsms than he himself knew, But
none % these things moved Arch
bishop Whitfield. He stood firm. He
declared that he had 4 right to es-
tablish any religious order in hi,
diocese that he chose. He promised
10 protect the new community and
commanded the good priest to con-
tinue his work.
For eight years the habit of the
Oblate Sisters consisted of q black
dress and a black bonnet for the
street. while in the house they wore
white cap banded with black rib
bon. About 30 years ago, however.
they voted to change their habit
TO black veil and a white guimpe.
The sides Of the bonnet prevented a
nun from seeing what was happen
ing on either side as she walked
And, although the veil is said to be
not SO picturesque as the bonnet the
nun wearing it does not take so
many risks rs she mingles in the
traf{ic on the street.
Aided Orphan Children.
In addition to teaching the chill
dren OF their group, for years the
Oblate Sisters fed. clothed and ed
ucated orphan children whom they
called "the children of the house"
But the Archbishop Of Baltimore
finally transferred these children to
the Franciscan Sisters (white) so
that the Oblates might devote them
selves exclusively to teaching. Many
OF the first colored teachers In the
District Of Columbia were trained
by the Oblate Sisters. For many
years the st. Frances School In
Baltimore was the only one in
reach of the colored people of the
District.
But there came q time when It
looked as If the convent would have
to be closed. There were very few
pupils in the school. They were
500 In debt. They had no money
and no prospect of getting any.
The sisters were often cold and
hungry in the winter. Some of them
who had been we'll to do, but had
given everything they possessed to
the convent when they made their
VOWS, had to take in washing and
ironing and sewing and mending
and do any kind of work they could
get: They even began to fear they
would not be allowed to stay in the
convent, since the archbishop had
decided their work as at an end,
had about decided to disband the
sisters and suggested that they re-
turn to the world which some of
them had renounced many years
before.
Seeing their pitiable plight, q
young Bavarian priest was moved to
come to their aid. Whats the
use Of trying to do anything?"
asked Archbishop Eccleston. And
when he seemed on the verge OF
denying his request the priest
begged so earnestly that he be al
lowed to save the order that the
archbishop gave his consent. Father