The Basics: Born in 1797 in Germany; died May 9, 1879, in Germany; beatified November 17, 1985, by John Paul II; feast day, May 9. Woman religious, teacher.
The Story: You might call Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger the Mother Cabrini of German immigrants to the United States. (Or perhaps, Mother Cabrini was the Theresa of Jesus of the Italian immigrants) By age fifteen, the woman 
born Karolina Gerhardinger was working as a teacher with encouragement from her parish priest. In her thirties, she began working to establish a congregation of sisters to educate students in rural areas, the group that ultimately would become the School Sisters of Notre Dame with Theresa as its general superior until her death. The focus was on bringing education to girls in particular, whether they were young enough for kindergarten or working in factories. work in rural schools.
Unrest in Germany during the mid 19th century resulted in significant emigration; between 1841 and 1860 alone, nearly 1.4 million Germans came to the United States. In response to the need, Theresa and five sisters came to Pennsylvania in June 1847, moving on to New York six weeks later. They were urged to return home as no support system for them existed. But they chose to stay, returning to Pennsylvania briefly, then going to Baltimore, where their effort was embraced by the Rev. John Neumann (now a saint himself). The sisters began teaching in three German parish schools that fall. The following year, Theresa, John Neumann, and Sister Caroline Freiss, who would ultimately take over the congregation’s U.S. effort, traveled to New York State, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Chicago to determine how the sisters might help meet the immigrants’ needs. Theresa returned to Germany in the summer of 1848.
Theresa left a treasure of more than 5,000 letters to the sisters and others. The letters reflect her love and knowledge of scripture, and her efforts to use that knowledge in keeping the group together and focused on the Lord during difficult times.
What We Can Learn: We never know where God is going to take us. Rather than making big plans for ourselves, let’s try to prepare ourselves for what we discern he wants… then accept where he leads.
Theresa’s Wisdom: “Let us do good while we have time, and it is day. ”
To Learn More About Blessed Theresa: Check out the School Sisters of Notre Dame Web site to discover more about the founder and learn about the sisters’ ministries today. Another marvelous resource is SturdyRoots, focused on the congregation’s history and spirt.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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