Holy Union Sisters Explained

Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts
Abbreviation:S.U.S.C.
Founder:Jean Baptiste Debrabant
Type:Female Catholic religious congregation
Headquarters:Rome, Italy
Website:https://www.holyunionsisters.org

The Holy Union Sisters, officially known as the Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts (French: Sœurs de la Sainte Union des Sacrés Coeurs), are a religious congregation of women in the Roman Catholic Church founded at Douai, France, in 1842, by Jean Baptiste Debrabant (1801 - 1889).[1]

History

The congregation has its roots in the 1820s, with four young women who earned their livelihood as dressmakers, but shared a strong religious faith. In the chaotic social situation of post-Revolutionary France, they soon decided to live together to support each other in their commitment and to share a life of prayer and service. The women began to teach the faith to the local children.

In 1826 a young priest, Jean Baptiste Debrabant (1801-1880), was sent as a vicar to their town. Impressed by this small community of dedicated women, Debrabant saw in them a vehicle to help educate the children of the region. He encouraged and guided them in their way of life, which began to draw many young women to join the original four. In addition to their catechetical work, they begin to train young girls housed in a shelter they had opened in their craft of dressmaking. In 1841 Debrabant approached his bishop, Pierre Giraud, the Archbishop of Cambrai, seeking recognition of the women as a religious congregation.

Permission was received and in 1842 over one hundred woman were admitted to a canonical noviatiate as an Institute of diocesan right. (This group, however, included only one of the original four members of the community.) The new congregation was then given its current name and a Rule of Life based primarily on that of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, founded by Francis of Sales and Louise de Marillac. The Sisters professed religious vows a year later.

The congregation quickly spread in answer to appeals for teachers in Catholic schools worldwide. It was approved by the Holy See and elevated to one of pontifical right in 1877. By the end of the century, they had come to administer schools in France, Belgium, England, Ireland, Argentina and the United States.

Current status

Today the Sisters also serve in Italy, Cameroon, Haiti and Tanzania.

Education

The Sisters devote themselves to the education of youth and have founded schools in multiple countries. Some of these schools are still run by the Sisters today.

Date foundedSchoolLocation
1858Bath, England[2]
1861La Sainte Union Catholic SchoolHighgate, England[3]
1863Banagher CollegeBanagher, Ireland[4]
1887Sacred Heart SchoolFall River, United States[5]
1899Grays Convent High SchoolGrays Thurrock, England[6]
1904St Anne’s Catholic SchoolSouthampton, England[7]
1905Sacred Heart SchoolLawrence, MA, United States[8] [9]
1923St. Mary-Sacred Heart SchoolNorth Attleborough, MA, United States[10]
1947Sacred Heart SchoolMount Ephraim, NJ, United States[11]
1949Country Day School of the Holy UnionGroton, MA, United States[12]
1953St Catherine’s Catholic SchoolBexleyheath, England[13]
1956Holy Cross Catholic Primary SchoolSouth Ockendon, England[14]
1959Holy Name SchoolFall River, MA, United States[15]
2008Debrabant Secondary SchoolDar es Salaam, Tanzania[16]
2018Holy Union Primary SchoolDar es Salaam, Tanzania[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La congrégation de la Sainte Union . www.institution-sainte-odile.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231205653/http://www.institution-sainte-odile.org/1-132-Jean-Baptiste-DEBRABANT-Fondateur-de-la-Congregation.php . 2010-12-31.
  2. Web site: 2014-11-07. La Sainte Union. 2021-12-22. Saint Gregory's Bath. en-GB.
  3. Web site: La Sainte Union - History of the School. 2021-12-22. www.lasainteunion.org.uk.
  4. Web site: 2016-02-10. History Banagher College, Coláiste Na Sionna. 2021-12-22. en-GB.
  5. Web site: 2012-03-12 . History . 2021-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312060836/http://www.sacredheartchurch-1872.org/Parish/History.htm . 12 March 2012 . dead.
  6. Web site: Our History. 2021-12-22. Grays Convent High School. en-US.
  7. Web site: Welcome to St Anne's Catholic School. 2021-12-22. www.st-annes.uk.com.
  8. Web site: 2015-10-09 . Sacred Heart School (Lawrence, MA) . 2022-04-22 . Queen City Massachusetts . en.
  9. Web site: 2018-09-21 . Sr. Claire Bergeron . 2022-04-22 . Holy Union Sisters . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2017-10-04. History & Mission. 2022-01-28. SMSH.
  11. Web site: Sister Virginia O'Hare, former Principal of the Sacred Heart School, Mt. Ephraim. 2022-01-28. CNBNews.
  12. Web site: History. 2021-12-22. Holy Union Sisters. en-US.
  13. Web site: History, Ethos & Values. St Catherine's Catholic School.
  14. Web site: Our School Holy Cross Catholic Primary School. 2021-12-22. www.holycrossprimary.com.
  15. Web site: Mission & Philosophy - Holy Name School (Holy Name School). 2022-01-28. www.hnsfr.org.
  16. Web site: TIDINGS from TANZANIA. 2022-01-28.
  17. Web site: TIDINGS from TANZANIA. 2022-01-28.