July 2, 2014 · 9:31 am

Battle of Gettysburg

Sister Camilla O'Keefe

Sister Camilla O’Keefe (used with permission of Daughters of Charity Provincial Archives)

This week we mark the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, fought a mere 11 miles from our campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Shortly after midnight on July 2, 1863, the last two remaining brigades, both attached to the Union Army’s Third Corps, left their brief encampment on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Central House to march north to join in the Battle of Gettysburg. The men had been ordered to stay behind lest the fighting, which had commenced the day before, move to the south. It would be only four short days before Fr. Francis Burlando accompanied the first Daughters of Charity into the war-ravaged town. Pictured is Sr. Camilla O’Keefe, one of the sisters who traversed the body-strewn battlefield to begin the task of caring for the wounded and dying in Gettysburg’s makeshift hospitals.

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Filed under Civil War, Emmitsburg, Gettysburg

July 1, 2014 · 10:16 am

In Memoriam: Sister Rosa Daly

We pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Rosa Daly, who died this morning (July 1, 2014) at the Villa St. Michael, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 95 years of age and 76 years of vocation.
May she rest in peace.

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Filed under Announcements, Deceased Sisters

June 30, 2014 · 12:22 pm

Do the Daughters of Charity still wear a habit?

The Provincial Archives receives many questions concerning the Daughters of Charity’s traditional habit. Our new exhibit, “Swan Song”, opening today, will look back at the 1964 change from the 17th century “cornette” habit.

We recently received this question concerning the habit, and thought it would be a good one to address here. The question was:

“if not wearing the habit what else can you wear as daughter of charity?”

The short answer is, the Daughters of Charity DO still wear a habit. Since 1964, when the habit was first changed, it has been modified numerous times, and continues to be modified in order to adapt to the circumstances of the Sisters’ ministry of service to the poor.

One thing about the Sisters’ attire which has not changed is the color scheme, blue and white, which is a symbol of the Community’s devotion to the Virgin Mary. However, today’s attire allows for much more variation than was the case in the years of the cornette habit. This story from the Province of St. Louise’s website, about the Sisters’ recently-completed Provincial Assembly, includes a picture of the Sisters who attended the Assembly. You will see in the picture the many different ways the current habit can be worn.

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Filed under Exhibits, Habit