Menard Memorial High School - Menardian Yearbook (Alexandria, LA)

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RWUWUEW SUPERIORS GENERAL OF THE BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART BROTHER POLYCARP, S. C. BROTHER ADRIAN, 5, C. BROTHER NORBERT, 5. C. First Superior Second Superior Third Superior REV, ANDREW COINDRE, Founder BROTHER ALBERIC, SC. BROTHER URCIZE, SC. BROTHER ALBERTINUS, S.C. Fourth Superior Fifth Superior Sixth Superior mi ni R 1347 - 1947

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,,:3,4.7wf.E5: A ...il Z.. , 'Ll , BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART l847 - I947 . , On January ll of this year, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart attained the lOOth anniversary of their arrival in the United States and the comple, tion of a century of service for the Sacred Heart in the apostolate of Christian Education in the New World. The Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart was founded by the zealous diocesan missionary Father Andrew Coindre at Lyons, France, in l82l. One of the few priests to survive the Reign of Terror that ravaged Catholic France, Father Coindre was keenly aware of the necessity of saving France's youth, many of whom were left orphans and homeless and whofwere fast becoming a God-less, criminal generation. With the aid of his father, he acquired a plot of ground and a building in the center of Lyons. Here, in l8l7, he gathered from the evils of the day a group of boys to whom he planned to impart the principles of religion and the rudiments of some use- ful trade. The foundation was known as the Pieux Secours and soon in- creased in numbers. A few young men were attracted to the person of the founder and furnished valiant aid in the care and schooling of the boys. The missionary labors and travels of Father Coindre often took him away from the Pieux Secours , and the good priest realized the necessity of giving his work a lasting character. He therefore summoned his helpers and told them he wished to organize them into a teaching Brotherhood bound by religious vows and subject to a religious rule of life. On September 30, l82l, the first ten Brothers-of the Sacred Heart pronounced their vows in the shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere. ln l826, the young Community was deprived of the fatherly affection, the wise guidance, and the saintly character of its Founder, who at his death bequeathed the work to his brother, Father Vincent Coindre. Already the Brothers were conducting five flourishing schools. However, the genius of the Founder was not adequately replaced by the goodness of his successor. Then, too, the renewed vigor of anti-religious persecution in l83O multiplied the difficulties. For a number of years, no recruits were received, and dis- couragement led to the defection of many. Nevertheless, among th weak were some brave hearts, and, in l8Z9, eight Brothers vowed themselves for life to the Sacred Heart in the labors of the Congregation. Among these was Brother Polycarp, destined to become the second founder of the Institute. ln fact, at the resignation of Father Vincent Coindre from superiorship in l84l , Brother Polycarp was named First Brother Superior General, which he remained until his death in l859. The new Superior was a man of rare virtue, of sound judgment, and of marvelous administrative abilities. Under his hand, the courage of many was strengthened, recruits were multiplied, and numerous schools were opened. The fame of the Brothers crossed the oceans, and, in l846, Bishop Michael Portier of Mobile, Alabama, requested Brother Polycarp to send him some Brothers to care for his orphan boys. Thus it was that on January l l, l847, the first five Brothers of the Sacred Heart set foot on American soil. The first foundation of the Brothers in the United States was the orphan- age and school of Saint Vincent's in Mobile. Through the struggles of lOO years, the original foundation, now known as Catholic Boys' Home, is still in the hands of the Brothers. The five valiant pioneers had scarcely settled iContinued on Page 62l -.-,.,-,.,.r.-n-,-f-,---

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REV. BRO. GILBERT, SC. PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR of the BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART in the UNITED STATES REV. BRO. ALBERTINUS, SC. SUPERIOR GENERAL of the BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART We knew ond revered him os Provin- ciol Superior. Now we ore proud to cloim him os the first Superior General of American citizenship.