[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 543]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SISTERS OF LORETTO CELEBRATE 200TH JUBILEE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a truly 
American story of faith and service, a tradition that has served, 
educated, and upheld true values in my district of El Paso, Texas. 
During this Catholic Schools Week, I would like to congratulate the 
Sisters of Loretto celebrating their 200th Jubilee Year this April.
  On April 25, 1812, three frontier women, Sisters Mary Rhodes, Nancy 
Havern and Christina Stuart, with the help of their Catholic pastor, 
the Rev. Charles Nerinckx, came together to found the Sisters of 
Loretto at the Foot of the Cross, on Hardin's Creek in central 
Kentucky, marking the beginning of a uniquely American community of 
faith and service. Motivated by faith and charity, they were soon 
joined by many others, taking as their purpose the instruction of girls 
and young women of every faith and economic means, even welcoming 
enslaved persons.
  The Sisters of Loretto expanded the work of education westward, first 
by steamboat to Missouri and Louisiana, and then by wagon train to New 
Mexico, by mail-coach to Colorado, and by train to Texas, Arizona, and 
California, ultimately contributing to American education in more than 
40 states. In the 20th century, they reached out to girls in Asia, 
South America, and Central America. Their members now serve throughout 
the United States, as well as in Europe, Guatemala, Bolivia, Nicaragua, 
Uganda, Ghana, and Pakistan.
  In their 200 years of work, the Sisters of Loretto and their 
colleagues have founded nearly 300 schools in the United States. The 
first Texas site of the Sisters of Loretto was established by Mother 
Praxedes in 1879 in El Paso County, and has educated thousands of El 
Paso and Juarez students through St. Joseph's Academy, Sacred Heart, 
St. Ignatius, Guardian Angel, Holy Family, Assumption, St. Mary's, St. 
Patrick's, Cathedral School, St. Joseph's School, and Loretto Academy.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the educators and administrators 
who continue this important legacy. Having reached nearly one million 
people, the Loretto Community of Sisters continues to educate and 
foster values of faith, justice, community, and respect in students at 
Loretto Academy, to teach adult education and GED classes, to work as 
chaplains at Nazareth Hall Nursing Center, and to run a homeless center 
for women at the Villa Maria Shelter.

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