THE SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY

HENRIETTE DELILLE


The Sisters of the Holy Family, an African American Congregation of Pontifical status, was founded by a free woman of African descent, Henriette Delille, in New Orleans, Louisiana some twenty years before the emancipation Proclamation. Henriette Delille and her friend, Juliette Gaudin, born in Cuba of Haitian parents, dedicated their lives to God and began their work of educating the children of slaves, caring for the sick, the poor and the elderly. Because of social customs and legislation regarding persons of African descent, the Sisters of the Holy Family were not officially recognized until 1842. Josephine Charles, also a free woman of color, joined them the following year.

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family have maintained their original ministries of educating youth and caring for the aged, the poor, and the most abject of society. They own and operate the oldest continuous Catholic home for the aged in the United States, and operate two independent facilities for low-income senior citizen in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sisters are administrators and educators of two pre-school child development centers, one primary free school for the poor, two high schools, and seventeen elementary schools in the United States, and an on-going involvement in the Diocese of Benin City, Nigeria West Africa, and founded the first vocational school in Belize, Central America for those students who are unable to attend regular high school classes. The Sisters have missions in Louisiana, Texas, California, Washington, D.C., and Belize, Central America.

A CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS!

In a world filled with "dreams deferred" and broken promises, it is encouraging to witness perseverance in a stable way of life.

Seven sisters of the Holy Family have given generously to God 50 years of their lives in loving service. They are from left to right: Sister Elma, Sister Marie Francine, Sister Maddalena Marie, Mother Mary de Chantal, Sister M. Joseph Ann Gillett, Sister M. Daniel Cooper. (not pictured is Sister Helen Simms)

The Sisters will have celebrations of thankfulness during the summer of 1997.

Jesus continues to call today's women to share in this spirit-filled life. If you are between the ages of 18-40 and would like to live a life of prayer, dedication, and service to God and His people, as a Sister of the Holy Family; we invite you to join us as we meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE: Sister Carmen Marie

CREATED BY FATHER JAMES PAWLICKI, SVD

June 4, 1997