Let's be truthful, the Catholic Church has had a checkered past throughout history with regards to civil rights in every continent. Yet, it was the Church's nuns who served world communities in nursing, education and social services and were the obvious agents for the social activism here in the U.S. in the 60's. |
For the first time a black nun, *Sister Mary Antona from St. Louis joined the efforts. Her fascinating story also describes the segregation of black nuns. I had never thought about the Church's segregation within its walls. Some Franciscan Sisters from La Crosse knew Sister Mary Antona and were present at the showing on Sunday.
Below are some short bios from the film's discussion page of the Sisters who participated and their important contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
" Franciscan Sisters of Mary:
*Antona Ebo known as Sister Mary Antona when she attracted national attention as the first black nun among the group of six who marched in Selma on March 10, 1965. After a long career in health care, which included running a hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin and serving as hospital chaplain in Jackson, Mississippi, she is now pastoral associate at St. Nicholas Church in St. Louis, Missiouri. She was one of the founding members of the National Black Sisters Conference and served as president. She revisited Selma in the 1980s and 90s, and was honored by the National Voting Rights Institute in 2000.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester:
Mary Paul Geck or Sister Mary Paul was missioned in Selma from 1962 to 1968 as Convent Superior and principal of St. Elizabeth's School for African Americans. She has since served as secretary general for the SSJR, and recently retired as funeral coordinator for her community in Rochester.
Barbara Lum was known as Sister Eleanor in the years before Vatican II, when Catholic nuns were required to give up their baptismal names. She was missioned in Selma from 1959 to 1969 as nursing instructor and Director of Nursing Service at Good Samaritan Hospital for African Americans. She now works as Education Specialist for Rochester’s Education Opportunity Center and as a nurse for Daystar Program for medically fragile infants.
Josepha Twomey, or Sister Josepha, was missioned in Selma, 1963 to 1965, as a teacher at St. Elizabeth's School for African Americans. She has since served as prison chaplain of Elmira Correctional Facility, New York, and as a caregiver at Sisters Care for the Elderly in Elmira.
Marie Albert Alderman, or Sister Marie Albert, was missioned as a teacher and outreach worker in Selma three times between 1959 and 2000. She has since served as Pastoral Assistant of St. Mary’s Parish, Canandaigua, New York.
Mary Weaver was known as Sister Felicitas when she was missioned in Selma, 1964 to 1972, as a teacher and social worker. She served in Alabama until 1991 in roles including Assistant Director of the Community Action Agency in Selma. She later served as transportation coordinator for her community in Rochester.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet:
Roberta Schmidt was known as Sister Ernest Marie when she was one of the first six nuns who answered Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to march in Selma, Alabama on March 10, 1965. She is now Director of Education of the Diocese of Venice, Florida.
Rosemary Flanigan was known as Sister Thomas Marguerite. She, too, was one of the first six nuns who marched in Selma. After a long career in philosophy, she is now program associate at the Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City, Missouri.
Barbara Moore was known as Sister Ann Benedict when she went to march in Selma from Kansas City on March 12, 1965. She trained as a nurse, but graduated to health care administration. She was one of the founding members of the National Black Sisters Conference. She is now a member of the leadership of her community, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Sisters of Loretto:
Therese Stawowy was Sister Ann Christopher of Loretto when she went to Selma in the first group of six nuns. A lifelong co-member of the Loretto Community, she retired after working as middle school director in Corte Madera, Calif. and still volunteers as a hospice caregiver.
Christine Nava was Sister Christine Mary of Loretto when she went to Selma in the first group of six nuns. Also a co-member of the Loretto Community, she retired from full-time teaching but continues to volunteer for the social activist group RESULTS in San Diego, California.
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Mary Ann Sommer was known as Sister Mary Leoline and was principal of a high school in Kansas City when she went to Selma on March 21, 1965. She was the only Catholic nun who marched all the way to Montgomery. She continued to be involved with the movement and was among those arrested in Washington, D.C. during the Poor People’s March of 1968. She retired as a counselor and patient advocate at UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
"
We are thankful for all the foot soldiers who worked in opposition to the denial of voting rights. If it wasn't for these brave souls many of our population would not be able to vote. Ironic isn't it that we are still fighting those who want to limit our citizens right to vote?
 |
| Sister Mary Antona |
Retracing the Steps 50 Years Later
No comments:
Post a Comment