 In
the beginning... there was a Call.
Click
here to view a short documentary on the founding
of our congregation.
Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis was the second Catholic bishop
of the Diocese of Galveston, which then included the
entire state of Texas. Riding long journeys on horseback,
he witnessed the overwhelming sickness, disease and poverty
of the people. Seeking help for those who were suffering,
he issued a call in his native France for Women Religious
to come to Texas to help care for the sick and infirm
in the name of Jesus Christ. He wrote,
"Our Lord Jesus Christ, suffering
in the persons of a multitude of sick and infirm of
every kind, seeks relief at your hands."
Three Sisters answered his call. They were: Sister Mary
Blandine, Sister Mary Joseph and Sister Mary Ange.
On October 25, 1866 the three founding members of the
Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word arrived in Galveston. They were taken to the Ursuline
Convent, as their own convent and hospital were still
under construction. Here they began studying the English
language and making provisions for their ministry. In
February the Sisters moved into their own convent and
on April 1, 1867 opened Charity Hospital, later to be
called St. Mary's Infirmary. It was the first Catholic
hospital in the state.
Only months after the hospital opened,
Galveston was struck by the worst yellow fever epidemic
in the city’s
history. Mother Blandine, the Superior of the small Congregation
of three, developed the disease on August 15, and died
three days later. Sister Ange was also stricken by yellow
fever but recovered and eventually returned to France.
With the help of local physicians and community leaders,
Sister Joseph, who was only 27 years old, kept the hospital
and congregation going during the darkest days of the
yellow fever epidemic. As more Sisters arrived from France,
Sister Joseph became Mother Joseph, Superior of the Congregation.
Over the years, our Congregation spread its ministries
to other city, states and nations. As we continue to
carry out our founding mission, the proud legacy of these
first three Sisters has continued to be a source of strength
and inspiration to us.
St.
Mary's Infirmary in Galveston, pre 1900 storm.
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