Immaculata University - Gleaner Yearbook (Immaculata, PA)

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precious freight of Catholic education far and wide, not only throughout the United States but to Chile and 'Peru in South America. The little band of four has increased to three thous- and six lnmdred forty-four living members, consecrated daughters of Mary lmmaculate, with Motherhouses established in three dio- ceses Detroit, Scranton, and Philadelphia. The Sisters conduct three colleges, ten academies, ninety-six high schools and two hundred thirty- two grammar schools, with an enrollment of approximately one lnmdred fifty thousand students. lt was in 1858 that the stream branched eastward when some of the Sisters came from Monroe to Saint .loseph's, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvaniag and in lylarch of the following year, at the request of the saintly liishop Neumann, they established a Novitiate and Academy in Saint Peter's parish, Reading. Pennsylvania, where a large mansion had been constructed for that purpose. In that year, too, the decision was made, in accordance with the prescriptions of Canon l.aw, that the two branches of the Institute would be governed. each by its own Superior, subject immediately to the diocesan Ordinary. However, to quote the words of Mother Maria Alma, devoted gleaner of community traditions, this legal and canonical separation did not estrange hearts and affections which had been tried together in adversity, and which had learned mutual trust and love in the labor and hardships of the early foundation. ln 1871 the stream branched to the north- ward with the erection of a separate Novitiate and Nlotherhouse in the newly created diocese of Scranton. Pennsylvania. ln the following year, 1872, the Illotherhouse and Novitiate at Reading were transferred to West Chester, Pennsylvania. Ifach of these three great branches has poured its streams copiously over our own beloved land---lfast and VVest and North and South. T ributary waters emerged from the VVest Chester branch to frnctify the soil of another continent in 1922, on Thanksgiving Day, when four Sisters--pioneer band of our South American missi1maries--embarked on the Santa Ana of the Grace Line to found an acad- emy for young ladies in Miraflores, suburb of Lima, Peru. At the request of Reverend Ernesto Cotte of the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, classes for the children of the poorer families were begun in Saint Anthony's School in Callao, Peru on April 1, 1928. Colegio .lm- maculado Corazon, a select school for small boys, was opened in lVl'iraHores on April 1, 1944 at the expressed desire of parents to have the Sisters teach the little ones. Meanwhile, Villa Maria Academy, Santiago, Chile was opened in the early part of 1940. when Mother bl. Cornelia and Sister M. Charitas journeyed from ,Peru to make the foundation. 'His lixcellency, Most Reverend Aldo l.aghi, lJ.D., Apostolic Nuncio to Chile, was well acquainted with the work of the Sisters in 'Peru since 1922, and he was de- sirous of seeing a similar establishment in Chile. The Academy is located within full view of San Christobal l-lill, on which stands a beautiful white marble statue of Our Immacu- late Mother, an earnest that Our l.ady is every- where present to guide and bless the work of the Sisters, Servants of her .lmmaculate Heart. How appropriate, then, that in this Centenary Year the Silver jubilee Class of Immaculata College should honor the memory of the thous- ands of Sisters who, during the past century, have built up so glorious a tradition of Catholic education. May the flood-tide of the tiny spring originating in Monroe continue to inun- date the vast stretches of our beloved America! May God, in His loving kindness, continue to bless the work of the Sisters and to prosper their institutions! May each Sister of the lm- maculate Heart merit the reward promised to those who instruct many unto justice! 'E.rcerpl from a sermon deliwred by Ifezferefirl James C. Monahan. al Villa Maria, West Chesler on the occasion of the Golden. Jubilee celebralian. of the foundation of the .S'i.vtvr.r, .S'm'1'ants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 14

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