Church Uses Old and New for Rising again - Diocese of Antigonish

The Atlantic Catholic — May 29, 2010Diocesan NewsSisters of Charity Honoured for Service to CanadaPage 7By Nicole MyshakA recent Government of Canadaannouncement could certainly beregarded as extraordinary in light ofthe far-reaching influence of secularhumanism.May 14 a Historic Sites andMonuments Board of Canada plaquewas unveiled commemorating thenational historic significance of thefounding of the Sisters of Charity ofSaint Vincent de Paul, Halifax.This public recognition of theundeniably rich contributionsof these religious was also anaffirmation of the enduring legacyof these women in education, healthcare and social services.Dr. Heidi MacDonald, whoparticipated in the unveilingceremony, emphasized theenormous “historical significance”of the sisters’ acceptance of thebishop’s invitation to come toHalifax and how their 1849 arrivalis appropriately being celebrated“as an event.”The faculty member withinthe Department of History at theUniversity of Lethbridge, ABrecounted how the sisters set upa home for orphaned childrenand became an independentcongregation in Halifax in 1856.Ten years later their involvementin health care began when members“They really didadvance the cause ofwomen,”— Sister RobertaKerins,a congregationalcounselor of theSisters of Charityvolunteered to nurse cholera victimsquarantined on McNabs Island inthe Halifax Harbour.This led to the building of fivehospitals where “unpaid but highlyskilled labour” was offered and“everyone received care” regardlessof their economic means.At the height of their educationalfocus the sisters held responsibilitiesin 100 elementary and high schools.Additionally, amongst the schoolsestablished and run by the Sisters ofBen Salem, an Asset Support Technician with Parks Canada, adjusts a plaque outside the Sisters of Charityof Saint Vincent de Paul, Halifax Motherhouse commemorating the work of the religious order. The publicacknowledgement was made May 14. The plaque reads: Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Halifax —Coming to Halifax in 1849 as teachers, these sisters were the first English-speaking Catholic congregation to arrivein Canada. They established and ran a broad range of schools, including Mount Saint Vincent Academy in 1873,and, in 1925, Mount Saint Vincent College, the first degree-granting college for women in the Commonwealth.By 1913 they reported directly to Rome rather than to the local bishop. Beginning in the second half of the 19 thcentury, the congregation expanded from its base in Nova Scotia, providing educational, health care, religiousand social services throughout Canada and abroad.Charity, was Mount Saint VincentCollege, the only degree-grantinginstitution for women within theCommonwealth in 1925.A former student of the sistersand a scholar of women religious,MacDonald suggested one cannotunderstand the history of Halifaxas well as that of education, healthcare and feminism “withoutunderstanding the history of womenreligious.”M a c D o n a l d n o t e d t h a tmembership within the congregationpeaked at 1,600 in 1959 andpresently remains at approximately450. However, she said that, nomatter the number of sisters, therewere never enough of them tofulfill all needs and respond to allrequests.They have been “a strong voicefor members of our community” and“have always been on the frontline,”added Senator Stephen Greene,who took part in the unveiling onbehalf of Jim Prentice, Ministerof the Environment and Ministerresponsible for Parks Canada.The sisters have been “very modestabout their accomplishments,” heacknowledged to the standingroom-onlycrowd gathered at theCaritas Residence in Halifax for theannouncement.I n h o n o u r o f t h e s eaccomplishments the senator calledthe plaque a “formal recognition”of the important role played bythe Sisters of Charity “in Canada’sdevelopment.”Sister Roberta Kerins, SC, acongregational counselor of theSisters of Charity who traveled fromMaryland for the event, agreed withSenator Greene about the sisters’national contributions. She attributedthis to the “consciousness raising”that they were able to achieve.Sister Kerins explained that thesisters greatly aided in shaping“the conscience of a country” by“grounding it in religious values.”They accomplished this througha multiplicity of endeavours thatincluded the “very innovativeways” they cared for those whowere significantly ill. The sistersalso established a nursing schooland affirmed the dignity of womenin many ways such as the grantingof educational degrees to femalesin the 1920s, something “unheardof” at the time.“They really did advance thecause of women,” acknowledgedthe member of the leadership teamof the Sisters of Charity.Sister Kerins attributes suchactions to “the motivation” of faiththat compelled the sisters outwardsfrom the chapel in an expression ofservice to those in need.“All people have an innate dignitythat needs to be acknowledgedand served,” she said. The sistersperceived the “importance of thedignity of the human person”and recognized this through theiractions.“To celebrate the beginning of our 15th year inbusiness, we are offering a 20% discount on allproducts in our store. We can mail goods.”