Mission Helpers, Mother Demetrias to Father O'Connell, November 14, 1904
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Title
Mission Helpers, Mother Demetrias to Father O'Connell, November 14, 1904
Description
In this November 14, 1904 letter to Father O’Connell of Pittsburgh, Mother Demetrias responds to his request for details about their Italian work and his inquiry as to whether The Mission Helpers would like to continue that work in Pittsburgh. She writes:
"Rev. and dear Father O'Connell,
Our sisters now in Pittsburg [sic] have written to say that you are very much interested in the Italians in your city - and seem desirous to know more of our work, prior perhaps, to having a small band of our sisters to work amongst these poor people. We enclose a report of the work done generally by our Community and will also give an outline of it amongst the Italians. We are now engaged in the Italian work in three cities, Balto., Trenton and Atlantic City. In Balto. we have an evening Catechetical school for boys from seven to sixteen years of age, five evenings in the week from 6:30 to 8:30 where we have three classes, one for small boys who are taught their prayers, the second class Catechism and the largest boys are preparing for their first H. Communion. The sisters give the Catechetical instruction for about half an hour or longer and a half hour of secular studies, reading, writing, etc. by some ladies who assist us, at the end the boys are given a warm lunch. On Sunday eve. at the same hour we have Sunday school for them.
In Trenton our sisters have charge of the Sun. school where four of them spend two or three hours teaching catechism, in addition to this they have a Home Training school for little boys and girls ranging in age from three to eight years; here they are taught habits of clean linens, the duties and respect due to parents, Priests and teachers; also the many little things that belong to the early training of the young.
In Atlantic City we have a sewing class for girls three evenings after school hours they have the first half hour or more for Catechism and singing, then sewing. In the beginning they learn how to sew, then are given a little garment to make.
Our house visiting brings about many good results, it puts the sisters in touch with the people, excites their confidence and causes them to know and feel that we are truly their friends, and from no interested motives, but solely for their souls welfare. This work we look upon as the most important use of our levies as Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart and believe it is the hidden means of untold good to souls, as has been proved hundreds of times in practical results, which we have seen and few know of except those who are the interested ones and Our good God.
Our house to house visits are done in the same way in each city. In the beginning two sisters simply make a call of about ten of [sic] fifteen minutes, two or three times, these are friendly visits and in this way we get acquainted with the family, talk to them on indifferent subjects, until they learn to know us than then the sister in some nice way broaches the subject of the children, if they go to Holy Mass and Sunday school; if they have been instructed etc. Finally in many cases we succeed in getting some of them to come to the Convent for instruction and persuade many of the older ones to go to the sacraments after they have not been sometimes for three, four, five as many as ten years.
Our principal means of support is what we get by questing. This we do in a quiet unobtrusive way, not importuning the people but simply call upon them about two or three times a year and only go to those who are willing to assist us. We have always had this mode of soliciting here in Balto. and have never had any trouble about it. In our questing the sisters do very little talking except to ask for an alms, unless there might be an opportunity of either offering a few words of sympathy to those in sorrow, or doing some little missionary work with those who have fallen away from God or from our Holy Faith.
We would like so much dear Rev. Father to go to your city to do God's blessed work and feel sure that everything could be arranged satisfactorily. In the meantime we shall leave all in God's hands and earnestly recommend the matter to our Sacramental Jesus perpetually exposed in our chapel that His holy Will may be done. This, and this alone is all we desire and I am sure that you too, have no other wish, than that this sweet and adorable Will be accomplished.
With regard to the immediate things necessary for a foundation we will have to refer the matter to our General Superioress in Puerto Rico, who has been there for a year or so making foundations and it will take at least five or six weeks to get an answer. With reference to our standing as a Community, we refer you to our Rev. doc. Super. who is also a Councillor of the Cardinal, Rev. P. B. Tarro D.D. St. Paul's Church, Ellicott City, MD.
Asking your Priestly blessing, I am your humble servant in Our Lord,
Mother M. Demetrias of the Will of God.
"Rev. and dear Father O'Connell,
Our sisters now in Pittsburg [sic] have written to say that you are very much interested in the Italians in your city - and seem desirous to know more of our work, prior perhaps, to having a small band of our sisters to work amongst these poor people. We enclose a report of the work done generally by our Community and will also give an outline of it amongst the Italians. We are now engaged in the Italian work in three cities, Balto., Trenton and Atlantic City. In Balto. we have an evening Catechetical school for boys from seven to sixteen years of age, five evenings in the week from 6:30 to 8:30 where we have three classes, one for small boys who are taught their prayers, the second class Catechism and the largest boys are preparing for their first H. Communion. The sisters give the Catechetical instruction for about half an hour or longer and a half hour of secular studies, reading, writing, etc. by some ladies who assist us, at the end the boys are given a warm lunch. On Sunday eve. at the same hour we have Sunday school for them.
In Trenton our sisters have charge of the Sun. school where four of them spend two or three hours teaching catechism, in addition to this they have a Home Training school for little boys and girls ranging in age from three to eight years; here they are taught habits of clean linens, the duties and respect due to parents, Priests and teachers; also the many little things that belong to the early training of the young.
In Atlantic City we have a sewing class for girls three evenings after school hours they have the first half hour or more for Catechism and singing, then sewing. In the beginning they learn how to sew, then are given a little garment to make.
Our house visiting brings about many good results, it puts the sisters in touch with the people, excites their confidence and causes them to know and feel that we are truly their friends, and from no interested motives, but solely for their souls welfare. This work we look upon as the most important use of our levies as Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart and believe it is the hidden means of untold good to souls, as has been proved hundreds of times in practical results, which we have seen and few know of except those who are the interested ones and Our good God.
Our house to house visits are done in the same way in each city. In the beginning two sisters simply make a call of about ten of [sic] fifteen minutes, two or three times, these are friendly visits and in this way we get acquainted with the family, talk to them on indifferent subjects, until they learn to know us than then the sister in some nice way broaches the subject of the children, if they go to Holy Mass and Sunday school; if they have been instructed etc. Finally in many cases we succeed in getting some of them to come to the Convent for instruction and persuade many of the older ones to go to the sacraments after they have not been sometimes for three, four, five as many as ten years.
Our principal means of support is what we get by questing. This we do in a quiet unobtrusive way, not importuning the people but simply call upon them about two or three times a year and only go to those who are willing to assist us. We have always had this mode of soliciting here in Balto. and have never had any trouble about it. In our questing the sisters do very little talking except to ask for an alms, unless there might be an opportunity of either offering a few words of sympathy to those in sorrow, or doing some little missionary work with those who have fallen away from God or from our Holy Faith.
We would like so much dear Rev. Father to go to your city to do God's blessed work and feel sure that everything could be arranged satisfactorily. In the meantime we shall leave all in God's hands and earnestly recommend the matter to our Sacramental Jesus perpetually exposed in our chapel that His holy Will may be done. This, and this alone is all we desire and I am sure that you too, have no other wish, than that this sweet and adorable Will be accomplished.
With regard to the immediate things necessary for a foundation we will have to refer the matter to our General Superioress in Puerto Rico, who has been there for a year or so making foundations and it will take at least five or six weeks to get an answer. With reference to our standing as a Community, we refer you to our Rev. doc. Super. who is also a Councillor of the Cardinal, Rev. P. B. Tarro D.D. St. Paul's Church, Ellicott City, MD.
Asking your Priestly blessing, I am your humble servant in Our Lord,
Mother M. Demetrias of the Will of God.
Creator
The Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart
Source
Mission Helpers' Collection
Publisher
ACUA
Date
November 14, 1904
Citation
The Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, “Mission Helpers, Mother Demetrias to Father O'Connell, November 14, 1904,” American Catholic History Classroom, accessed April 20, 2024, https://cuomeka.wrlc.org/items/show/1274.