- February 14, 2020 Sister Stories
Courage, Love Shown By Sisters of St. Joseph Of Carondelet During The Great Chicago Fire
Love stories are timeless. Here is a remarkable story recently brought to our attention about loving acts of kindness and care on a historic evening in Chicago almost 150 years ago.
In 1871, St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in a building that stood on the corner of State and Superior Streets, where Holy Name Cathedral is today. Two hundred and eighty children, age three weeks to 18 years old, were cared for by Mother Mary Joseph Kennedy, assisted by 14 other Sisters.
On the fateful night of October 9, at 9 p.m. in the evening, all of the children were asleep when Sister Michael and Sister Mary Incarnation McDonough noticed a bright glow across the sky, in the direction of the South Side. Their concerns grew as the street outside of their building filled with people hurriedly leaving the city. They realized this was no ordinary fire, so they quickly woke their fellow Sisters and worked together to awaken all of the children, help them get dressed, and move together to the chapel.
As strong winds increased, Mother Mary Joseph woke the chaplain, Reverend Father Guerin, who quickly joined the group in the chapel, and saved the Blessed Sacrament there. By 1 a.m. all were forced to leave the chapel, as fire now engulfed the barnyard just behind their building.
Each Sister carried two infants, while the older children held tight to the younger ones. Lined up closely together, Mother Mary Joseph led everyone north, though they had no idea of their destination. At one point, a team of horses rushed toward the group from their right side, and another came from the left. One team stopped for the large group, but the other team of horses, in a panic, was determined to keep moving through. Mother Mary Joseph fearlessly stepped forward, and took hold of the horses by their bridles. Witnesses watched in amazement as Mother Mary single-handedly stopped the horses until all of the children and Sisters in the long line got through the intersection, flames raging all around them.
The weary group kept walking north until 4 a.m. when they reached a prairie many miles out of the city. The exhausted children fell asleep, and by 9 a.m. two Jesuit priests found he group and began working with the Sisters to secure a temporary home for the orphans. About 11 p.m. that evening, all were welcomed into the Jesuit College at 12th and May Streets. The priests and students had worked all day to change classrooms into rooms for the children. In May of 1872, a new permanent home was opened at 739 E. 35th Street, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet ran this home until 2005! Today the Sisters’ ministries include helping women who are out of prison and supporting immigrants and refugees. This inspiring work is a beautiful continuation of the loving example set by Mother Mary Joseph and her fellow Sisters, who faced the Great Chicago Fire with selfless courage, strength and devotion to the children in their care.
Courtesy the Keenager News, Chicago