Sisters of St. Joseph Make Religious Profession, 1900

IN THE FLUSHING CONVENT.
Bishop McDonnell Officiates at the Ceremony and Gives Her the Religious Name of Sister Mary Bernadette.
The Brooklyn Eagle, August 26, 1900


(Special to the Eagle.)
College Point, L.I., August 25—
A large number of priests and sisters were present at St. Joseph’s Convent, when the feast of St. Louis, the patron saint of the mother superior of the St. Joseph Sisters, was celebrated in the convent chapel by a high mass, at which Bishop McDonnell assisted. The Rev. E.J. Donnelly of St. Michael’s Church, Flushing, was assisted celebrant, the Rev. James Corrigan, D.D., deacon; the Rev. Louis Ulean, sub deacon, and Mr. J. Claire of St. John’s College, master of ceremonies. Besides the priests and sisters over 100 guests were in attendance. “Lejeal’s mass in D” was sung by the sisters’ choir, and “Marzo’s Salve Regina” as an offertory piece.

In the afternoon the ceremony of a reception of novices and a profession of sisters took place, Bishop McDonnell presiding. He questioned the candidates in regard to their motives for entering the religious state and having heard their replies admitted them as members of the community. Five young women, all former residents of Brooklyn, received the novice’s white veil, among them being Miss Grace York, the only daughter of Police Commissioner Bernard J. York. Miss York entered the convent as a postulant last March and on her reception into the novitiate today she took the name of Sister Mary Bernadette, by which she will henceforth be known.

The other young women who received the white veil were: Miss Grace Smith, who will henceforth be known in religion as Sister Mary Rosalie; Miss Margaret Croak, as Sister Mary Irmina; Miss Adele Ladley, as Sister Mary Adollarata; Miss Rosalie Hamill, as Sister Mary Natalie.

The original Motherhouse for the Sisters of St. Joseph, as seen in Flushing in the early 1900’s.

Those who, having completed the two years’ novitiate, were permitted to take their final vows and assume the black veil, are: Sister Mary Macrina, Sister Frances Regis, Sister Anna Germaine, Sister Stephen Maria, Sister Mary Anacletus, Sister Maria Visitatio and Sister Mary Modesta.

The graduates of June last acted as bridesmaids and formed in their new white veils and dresses striking contrasts with the somber robed sisters whom they accompanied.

The Rev. F. Cassidy, S.J., of St. John’s College, Fordham, preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion, explained briefly the sacredness and advantages as well as the responsibilities of the religious vocation and exhorted the young aspirants to perseverance in the service of the divine Master who had so signally favored them by calling them to the religious state.

An unidentified Sister of St. Joseph, as seen in the late nineteenth century.

The singing and music by the Convent choir were in keeping with the beauty and attractiveness of the ceremony. Benediction of the blessed sacrament was given by the bishop and Faure’s “Tantum Ergo” was sung, and in conclusion the choir sang the hymn to St. Louis.

Beside the officiating clergy the following occupied the sanctuary: The Right Rev. Mgr. McNamara, V.G.; the Revs. Joseph McNameee of St. Teresa’s Church, J. Morgan of the Nativity, David J. Hickey of St. Francis Xavier, John J. Barrett of St. Julius’ Chapel, F.F. Flynn of St. Agnes’, John C. York of Huntington, John M. Kiley of Brentwood, and John J. Robinson of Brooklyn.

NOTE
The Sisters of St. Joseph were founded in France in 1650. They first came to the United States in 1836, beginning their work in Carondolet, Missouri. From there they spread throughout the rest of the United States. In 1856, at the request of Bishop John Loughlin, they came to Brooklyn, and they established St. Mary’s Academy in Williamsburg.


When they first came to Williamsburg, anti-Catholic sentiment was so high that they had to walk the streets in civilian clothing. In 1860, they moved their headquarters to Flushing, where they had a school, an orphanage and a novitiate (a training ground for new nuns). In 1903, these facilites were moved to Brentwood, Long Island. Today the Sisters are known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood.

Ever since they first came to Brooklyn, the Josephites have contributed mightily to building up the local Church. From one end of Long Island to the other, they created an impressive network of schools, hospitals and orphanages still in place today. In 1916, they founded Long Island’s first Catholic college for women, St. Joseph’s in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. And through the years their ministries have expanded in ways far beyond what their founders could have envisioned, a continuing commitment to loving, pastoral service.