Als Antwort Auf Gottes Ruf

As part of our ongoing observance of the 200th birthday of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, we continue to post excerpts of Als Antwort auf Gottes Ruf (Bonifatius, 2016), the history of the Sisters of Christian Charity since 1881, by Sister Anna Schwanz, SCC, translated by Sister Mary Perpetua Rehle, SCC.

Continued Expansion in America
North America
The main apostolate, education in different types of schools, as well as religious instruction for children in the parishes who attended public schools, continued to expand in the 1950's.  In 1956, the leadership of the Western Province attempted to return to and implement Mother Pauline's first apostolate, the education of the blind children. . . . A further activity undertaken for the Kingdom of God which was a big challenge was the opening of a school for African American children in North Little Rock in 1957. . . . In 1956 the Eastern Province took over its first school for African American children in Greenville, NC. . . . St. Vincent Orphanage in Normandy was thoroughly renovated and rebuilt in 1959.
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A special project expanding our apostolic activities was undertaken in the North American Eastern Province during these years.  The Province moved into new territory by the decision to build and administer a hospital, Divine Providence Hospital, in Williamsport, and to become engaged in health care. . . . At the blessing of the cornerstone, a Catholic Monsignor, an African American Minister from the Baptist community, a Lutheran minister and a Jewish rabbi spoke, certainly a symbol indicating that "in this hospital all the sick regardless of race or religion would experience the blessing of Christian Charity" . . . Preparations for the construction of a second hospital, Holy Spirit in Harrisburg, were begun in 1957, and the dedication took place in 1963.