The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, and the Sisters of Loretto received the Fr. Louis J. Luzbetak SVD Award for Exemplary Church Research at Georgetown University on November 13, 2025. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate recognized the three congregations for work that brought forward the history of individuals and families who were enslaved by their communities in the nineteenth century.
Sister Theresa Knabel accepted the award for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Sister Rosemary Rule, OP, and Sister Eleanor Craig, SL, accepted on behalf of their congregations. All three were central figures in gathering archival records, court documents, and personal correspondence that confirmed names, relationships, and the lived experiences of the enslaved.
Sister Theresa opened her remarks by greeting those gathered from “the Kentucky Holy Land.” She noted the early history of Catholic settlement in the region and explained that the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth were formed “ready to serve the needs of the day” in 1812. She spoke plainly about the reality that the Congregation participated in the culture around them. As she stated, “We were part of a culture which embraced slavery, and we too were slaveholders.”
Her research began with the community’s extensive archival collection. She explained that baptismal records were among the most helpful resources. One entry from 1841 read, “I baptize Pamela Ann, daughter of Mary Ann, Servant of Nazareth and Jackson, servant of Smith’s estates.” She shared letters that revealed moments of ordinary life, such as an 1845 note from Sister Isabella, who wrote, “Mary Bean intends to have a christening here about Christmas and you are all invited to come up to get some of the plum cake.”
Records also documented marriages. An 1848 letter from Mother Frances described an upcoming ceremony. “Tomorrow Emily and Harry are to be married. Our good confessor will perform the ceremony.”
From these materials Sister Theresa identified four practices common in the region at the time. People were not to be mistreated. They were to be instructed in religious life and prepared for sacraments. Husbands and wives were not to be separated for more than two days. If individuals had to be sold, they were to be sold to another Catholic household to ensure continuity in religious practice. One entry from 1859 reflected this concern. “George must be sold, and you are desired to make arrangements with Mr. Clements, who owns George’s wife, that they may go together as we will not separate the husband from his wife.”
She noted that life remained difficult. An overseer was employed to run the farm and enforce rules. Eight men left Nazareth during the Civil War to join the United States Colored Troops. Their journey to a recruiting station required thirty miles on foot without being stopped by patrols. A letter from Mother Columba in 1864 described the tension in the area. “A great excitement among the Negroes still exists. Six more of ours left the first of this week.”
Sister Theresa shared that her interest deepened when she searched the cemetery for graves of the enslaved and found one marker bearing a single name with a reference to “other faithful servants of Nazareth.” She then committed herself to identifying every person by name. Today those names are carved on a monument at the entrance of the cemetery.
She concluded with a short account of later ministries. After emancipation Sisters responded to requests to open schools and hospitals for African American communities. Their outreach continued through scholarships and more recently through a partnership with the Urban League, which has provided housing in the West End of Louisville.
Sister Theresa expressed gratitude for support from SCN Leadership and the Archival staff, stating that the Archives remain open to researchers. She closed with simple thanks on behalf of the Congregation.