[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE SISTERS OF LORETTO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary and continued legacy of the Sisters of Loretto upon their 
200th Anniversary and Jubilee. With a current global reach in education 
ministry spanning multiple continents, the Sisters of Loretto and their 
extended network spend each day on a spiritual mission to promote peace 
and justice, environmental stewardship, and, above all, high-quality 
education for children everywhere.
  On April 25, 1812, the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross 
came to fruition through the humble and steadfast commitment of three 
American frontier women in central Kentucky named Mary Rhodes, Ann 
Havern and Christina Stuart. With the long-time counsel and support of 
local pastor, Father Charles Nerinckx, the women dedicated their lives 
to communal living and prayer. Little did they know at the time, that 
their lifetime commitment to teaching local poor children and housing 
orphans would spur a global movement.
  The women's selfless work under extreme frontier conditions inspired 
scores of other women to join the religious order. In a model of faith 
and service, the Sisters made their special purpose the education and 
instruction of girls and young women of every faith and economic means, 
including those still enslaved under the law. Over the next two 
decades, membership grew to 130 women overseeing nine frontier schools 
in Kentucky and Missouri. And over the next century, they founded 99 
additional schools in territories that would become 13 different 
states.
  The Sisters of Loretto continued to expand the work of education 
westward, first by steamboat to Missouri and Louisiana. Then, by wagon 
train to New Mexico, mail coach to Colorado, and by train to Texas, 
Arizona and California. Ultimately, the order contributed to burgeoning 
systems of American education in more than 40 states. In one chapter of 
Sisters of Loretto history from 1898 to 1922, the visionary leadership 
of Superior General Mother Praxedes Carty SL brought greater emphasis 
to women's higher education goals. Mother Praxedes was one of the first 
leaders of her time to insist that Loretto Sisters would need master's- 
and doctorate-level educational training for their teaching. In 1916, a 
time when universities were almost exclusively off-limits to women, 
Mother Praxedes erected Loretto College for women in St. Louis, 
Missouri (now known as Webster University).
  From being among the first invited women participants at Vatican II 
to moving toward greater, independent social peace and justice efforts 
in the 20th century, the organization has had a presence in China (as 
early as 1923), Europe, South and Central America (Guatemala, Bolivia 
and Peru), as well as in recent years, Uganda, Pakistan and Ghana, 
where they co-opened Blessed Trinity Leadership Academy in 2009. The 
Sisters of Loretto have formed amazing partnerships with local 
organizations on the ground and have galvanized a network of co-member 
volunteers. To name a few of its many roles, the Loretto Community NGO 
has consultative status at the United Nations and comprises a Loretto 
Hunger Fund, as well as a Committee for Racial Justice. The Sisters 
have also built memorials for victims of slavery as well as those who 
have died from AIDS.
  Clearly, the trailblazing roots of this frontier organization, have 
persisted and flourished over the last 200 years. Altogether, the 
Sisters of Loretto and their colleagues have founded nearly 300 U.S. 
schools, colleges, centers and service programs, supporting the 
education and growth of close to one million American citizens. And, as 
a proud former student of the Sisters of Loretto at St. Joseph School 
in El Paso, Texas, and 2002 recipient of their Mary Rhodes Award for 
peace and justice, I know firsthand what their movement for quality 
women's education has done for our nation, and the world. They planted 
the seeds for my work for peace and justice. And for that, I am deeply 
grateful.
  Therefore, on behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I 
salute the Sisters of Loretto and thank them for their immense service. 
I congratulate all of you upon this incredible milestone, and join you 
in looking ahead toward centuries' more work from the Sisters of 
Loretto in pursuit of education, enlightenment, peace and progress.

                          ____________________