The Sisters of Holy Cross, (Soeurs de Sainte-Croix) headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada is an international Catholic congregation of religious sisters which traces its origins to the foundation of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1837 in Le Mans, France by the Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC. Two other congregations of sisters also have the same origins: the Marianites of Holy Cross (New Orleans, Louisiana) and the Sisters of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame, Indiana).
History
The congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross was founded in Le Mans, France in 1841. In June 1843, four sisters left the motherhouse in France to join Father Edward Sorin C.S.C. at his mission at Notre Dame, Indiana. A second story had been added to the log chapel at Notre Dame for their convent. The Sisters of Holy Cross had been founded originally to care for the housework in the boarding schools conducted by the priests. Upon their arrival, they took charge of the sacristy, infirmary, clothes room, etc. In 1844 a novitiate was opened at Bertrand, Michigan, six miles from Notre Dame. The sisters taught the children of the neighbourhood, and cared for several orphans. With assistance from the Society of the Propagation of the Faith the sisters were able to extend their work.[1]
A school was opened at Pokagon, Michigan, in 1845. This was followed by other foundations at St. John's, Mackinac, Louisville, Lowell (Indiana), Laporte, Michigan City, and Mishawaka. In 1847 four sisters with some companions from the motherhouse in France opened a convent at St. Laurent, Canada, which formed the nucleus of the subsequently erected province. In 1849 four sisters took charge of the boys' orphan asylum in New Orleans, and from there a house was opened in 1854 in New York with the sanction of Father Moreau. Sisters were sent to this establishment from Notre Dame, Canada, and New Orleans. Misunderstandings due to orders issued from France and Notre Dame led to the withdrawal of the American sisters from the new foundations, the houses of New Orleans and New York remaining subject to France.[1]
Locations
The Sisters of Holy Cross are represented in the following countries: Canada (1847), United States Region: (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Florida);[2] Haiti, Peru, Chile, Rome, Mali, Burkina Faso and Vietnam.[3] The English Canadian Region is based in Ontario, while the French Region is out of Quebec.[4]
Ministry
In Manchester, New Hampshire, Holy Cross Family Learning Center offers English as a Second Language (ESL) for beginners and intermediates for the growing immigrant and refugee population of the Greater Manchester.[5] They also sponsor Holy Cross Health Center and St. George Manor in Manchester. HCHC is a forty-bed skilled nursing facility for women religious.[6]
References
- ^ a b Antoine, Sister Mary. "Sisters of the Holy Cross." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 20 February 2020
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Where We Are", Sisters of Holy Cross, US Region
- ^ Holy Cross International Justice Office
- ^ Soeurs de Sainte-Croix
- ^ Holy Cross Family Learning Center, Manchester, New Hampshire
- ^ Holy Cross Health Center/St. George Manor, Manchester, NH
External links
- Gift of the Cross Lenten Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition
