Having fulfilled her mission on this earth, Sister Saint-Jean left her work firmly underway.
“She may have witnessed with her own eyes the great expansion of the Institute she co-founded, but she departed with the certainty that the seed had been well sown.”
The growth of a work of faith.
The mission no longer depended on a single person; it had become a living family, ready to grow and cross borders.
“My dear Missionaries, our work has prospered, and if God wills that I be welcomed into heaven, I will pray for all of you.”
We have no doubt that God welcomed her with open arms. Béziers proved too small to contain the fervor that filled the nuns’ hearts.
Expansion was a long-held desire, although vocations were rare in the region. The founders' boldness lay in internationalizing a work that had only one community.
“It is I, Sister Saint Jean, who speaks now… I have seen my sisters cross seas, face the cold, scarcity, and prejudice. I have seen communities grow, sustained only by faith and the certainty that educating is a transformative act.”
Two months after the death of Sister Saint-Jean, the nuns elected Sister Sainte Croix as their second Superior General. She led the organization for nine years, consolidating its international expansion.
"On September 27, 1870, the bishop finally granted permission for the foundation in Lisburn, Ireland. What began in Béziers, conquered the world."
Ten nuns left France for Ireland, settling in Lisburn. It was the first international foundation, 21 years after the birth of the Institute.
The beginning was marked by the experience of ‘holy poverty’ during a harsh winter. Free and fee-paying schools were established, ensuring the mission’s sustainability.
In 1871, Gailhac visited the Irish community, pointing that the work already involved around 400 people, despite the difficulties in Béziers.
The foundation in Bootle (England) became the second community outside of France after careful negotiations with Fr. Thomas Kelly.
Amidst the anticlerical sentiment in Porto, Gailhac's response was decisive: "Stay where you are, even if you only have one student." The trials strengthened the mission.
Sag Harbor in New York marked the beginning of the expansion into the Americas, which quickly reached Mexico and other regions.
The last foundation she led was in Ferrybank. Her leadership was crucial to the international consolidation of the Institute until 1878.
The expansion of the Institute was marked by wars, poverty, and trials. Even so, driven by faith, my sisters crossed oceans and opened schools where there was almost nothing but a desire to serve. The story that remains is that of a family that grew united and faithful to its charism.
In the next section, I, Sister Maria de Aquino, will tell you the story of another woman who helped strengthen and give new direction to the Brazilian mission.
Next Topic: Sister Maria de Aquino
Getting to know Maria de Aquino