“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”
St. Louise de Marillac
Rooted in Faith, United in Mission: The Sisters of Charity and the Oblate Sisters of Providence
By Veronica Buchanan, archivist, Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
The Lower Chapel at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, features statues to two women who worshiped there and went on to found religious orders, Mother Mary Lange, OP, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Through the Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious (ACWR), I have had the privilege of connecting with archivists from communities across the country. Over the past six months, ACWR’s mentoring program has hosted monthly Zoom meetings, each featuring an archivist sharing insights into their community’s history and archival collections. In March, Sharon C. Knecht, archivist for the Oblate Sisters of Providence, offered a compelling presentation on the rich and remarkable history of the oldest African American women’s religious community in the United States – an order that, interestingly, has historical ties to Mother Seton’s community.
The roots of the Oblate Sisters of Providence trace back to the late 18th century, when refugees fleeing the Haitian Revolution settled in the Baltimore area. The newly established Saint Mary Seminary on Paca Street opened its Chapelle Basse (Lower Chapel) to local laity. Elizabeth Ann Seton arrived at Paca Street in 1808, attended Mass with members of the Haitian community, and would eventually make her vows in that same chapel in 1809, founding the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. The foundress of the Oblate Sisters, Elizabeth Lange, had immigrated from the Caribbean in the early 1800s and may have crossed paths with Elizabeth Seton during this period.
In 1829, Elizabeth Lange—guided by Sulpician Father James Nicholas Joubert—founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence. The congregation’s initial Rule was based in part on the Rule of the Sisters of Charity, reflecting shared Sulpician roots. A key distinction, however, lies in the form of their commitment. The Oblates “make no vows, but merely a promise of obedience … Hence their annual engagement, instead of profession, is called oblation.”
Both communities prioritized education in their early ministries. The Oblates established St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, while the Sisters of Charity’s educational mission rapidly expanded to numerous schools, but there are parallels with the Oblates through their work at St. Joseph Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Tuition from these schools provided critical financial support: for the Sisters of Charity, it enabled outreach to poor children; for the Oblates, it sustained their fledgling religious community.
Curriculum similarities also emerged. An 1822 advertisement for St. Joseph Academy listed subjects such as English, French, reading, spelling, writing, history, geography, arithmetic, music, drawing, painting, and embroidery. The Oblate Sisters’ curriculum emphasized language and writing as well, while also incorporating practical instruction in sewing “in all its branches,” along with washing and ironing.
Mother Mary Lange, OP, is one of “The Saintly Six,” six Black American Catholics on the path to sainthood. She was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2023.
A particularly moving connection between the two communities occurred during the 1832 cholera epidemic. When the Trustees of the Bureau of the Poor called for help at the Calverton almshouse near Baltimore, four Sisters of Charity initially responded. Recognizing the need for more hands, they informed the Trustees of a “society of religious colored women” who could assist. Though none of the 11 Oblate Sisters at the time were trained in healthcare, they all volunteered. According to historical accounts, they were “filled with joy and happiness” at the opportunity to serve Christ through care for the sick. Four Oblate Sisters were selected by Fr. Joubert and joined the Sisters of Charity in caring for patients at the almshouse for a month.
Author’s note: Thanks to this wonderful presentation, we were able to secure copies of Persons of Color and Religious at the Same Time: The Oblate Sisters of Providence, 1828-1860 and Oblate Sisters of Providence: A Pictorial History for the archives library. These were the sources used for this article and pictures. Photo of needlework from St. Joseph Academy courtesy of the Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise Archives.
Needlework1
Examples of needlework designs from the St. Francis Academy (left) and St. Joseph Academy (right) demonstrate the similarity of curriculum taught by the Oblate Sisters and the Sisters of Charity.
Needlework2
Examples of needlework designs from the St. Francis Academy (left) and St. Joseph Academy (right) demonstrate the similarity of curriculum taught by the Oblate Sisters and the Sisters of Charity.
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