The Sisters of the Holy Family (SSF;
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
: ''Soeurs de la Sainte Famille'') are a
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practi ...
of
African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
nuns
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
based in
. They were founded in 1837 as the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by
Henriette DeLille
Henriette Díaz DeLille, SSF (March 11, 1813 – November 16, 1862) was a Louisiana Creole of color and Catholic nun from New Orleans. Her father was a white man from France, her mother was a "quadroon", and her grandfather came from Spain. She ...
, adopting the current name in 1842. They were the second Black religious order in the United States, after
Mother Mary Lange
Mary Elizabeth Lange, OSP (born Elizabeth Clarisse Lange; c. 1789 – February 3, 1882) was a Black Catholic religious sister who founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African-American religious congregation. She was also, via the ...
's
Oblate Sisters of Providence.
History
Around 1829, Henriette DeLille joined Juliette Gaudin, a
Haitian, and
Josephine Charles and began efforts to evangelize New Orleans enslaved persons and
free persons of color. Around 1836, they formed the Congregation of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, New Orleans' first confraternity of women of color.
Their unofficial
habit
A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. was a plain blue dress, as they were not allowed by Bishop
Antoine Blanc
Antoine Blanc (11 October 1792 – 20 June 1860) was the fifth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. His tenure, during which the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, was at a time of growth in the city, ...
to wear real habits due to their being Black.
The congregation was established under the current name in 1842.
["Brief History of the Sisters of the Holy Family", Sisters of the Holy Family](_blank)
/ref> They began as a diocesan congregation and were assisted by Marie Jeanne Aliquot, who as a white French woman was prevented by law from joining a congregation of women of color. The Religious of the Sacred Heart
, image = RSCJnuevo.jpg,
, image_size = 150px
, caption =
, abbreviation = Post-nominal letters: RSCJ
, formation =
, founder = Saint Sr. Madeleine Sophie Barat, R.S.C.J.
...
provided Henriette, Juliette and Josephine spiritual formation and experience in formal religious community living.
The Association of the Holy Family, a lay group of free persons of color contributed financially, and helped found the Hospice of the Holy Family, for the elderly sick and poor.Antoine Blanc
Antoine Blanc (11 October 1792 – 20 June 1860) was the fifth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. His tenure, during which the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, was at a time of growth in the city, ...
would not allow Black women to make public vows. He also did not allow them to publicly wear habits.mother superior
An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa''), also known as a mother superior, is the female superior of a community of Catholic nuns in an abbey.
Description
In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic ...
. She took the name Sister Mary Theresa; however, everyone called her Mother Henriette.[St. Mary's Academy, New Orleans](_blank)
/ref>
In 1876, the sisters were finally allowed to wear their habits publicly. In 1887, their formal rule was approved by the bishop.
The academy moved to the Quadroon Ballroom on Orleans Avenue in 1881, and in 1921 the sisters assumed responsibility for a school for children of color from St. Francis de Sales Church; that school had been previously run by the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament.
SMA moved onto Chef Menteur Boulevard in New Orleans East in 1965.
Organization and membership
The Sisters of the Holy Family is a congregation of pontifical right
In Catholicism "of pontifical right" is the term given to ecclesiastical institutions (religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See, or approved by it with the formal decree known by the Latin nam ...
. The motherhouse is in New Orleans, and as of 2015 its members numbered 96 sisters.
The order is headquartered a block away from the school. Their mission statement says:
:“We exemplify and share the spirituality and charism of Henriette Delille with the people of God. We bring healing comfort to children, the elderly, the poor, and the powerless, especially those of African descent. As we embrace the third millennium, our love for God compels us to confront racism, all forms of injustice, discrimination, and economic oppression through evangelization and education.”
Legacy
The National Museum of African American History and Culture includes historic items from black Catholic communities, including Sisters of the Holy Family.Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana (also known as XULA) is a Private university, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black, Roman Catholic, Catholic university in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only Catholic HBCU ...
, and working alongside the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (SBS) are a Catholic order of religious sisters in the United States. They were founded in 1891 by Katharine Drexel as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People.
During her life, Saint ...
, Xavier University Archives & Special Collections also holds a small collection on the history of the Sisters of the Holy Family.
In popular media
The actress Vanessa Williams produced a 2000 television movie, ''The Courage to Love
''The Courage to Love'' is a 2000 television history film starring Vanessa L. Williams, who was also the producer. The premiere was held 24 January 2000 on Lifetime. The film also stars Vanessa's children: Jillian Hervey, Melanie Hervey, Devin ...
'', about Henriette Delille, in which she herself starred in the lead role.Nolan, Nell. "Sisters of the Holy Family gala", ''New Orleans Advocate'', August 15, 2015
/ref>
References
External links
The Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Holy Family page
* Orrick, Lucy Semmes
"Along the Color Line"
National Magazine, November 1904
{{catholic congregation
Catholic female orders and societies
Religious organizations established in 1837
African-American Roman Catholicism
Catholic religious institutes established in the 19th century
1837 establishments in Louisiana
Sisters of the Holy Family (Louisiana)