Archives, Catholic Diocese of Charleston South Carolina

Born in Ireland in 1814, Teresa Barry arrived in America at age 3 to live with her aunts, Mary and Honora O’Gorman. The Misses O’Gorman came to Charleston in 1829 at the request of Bishop John England and founded "the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy." Teresa Barry, at the age of 15, joined her aunts and became a member of the new religious order.  During most of her life, Mother Teresa Barry was the Superioress. At the time of her death in 1901, the community was conducting a hospital, a school of nursing, an orphanage, four parochial schools, the Academy of Our Lady of Mercy, and St. Joseph’s Academy in Sumter, S.C.  In 1949, the word "charity" was added to the name.

Mother Mary Joseph (Harriet) Woulfe was born in Ireland in 1815 and educated by the Ursulines in County Cork, Ireland.  After professing her desire to become a nun, she was sent to France to discern her vocation. In 1834, Bishop John England went to France to solicit nuns for his diocese and Harriet Woulfe joined his group. They arrived in Charleston on December 10, 1834. In 1835, the Ursuline Academy, a girl’s school for higher education, was opened. In 1846, Mary Ann Molony (pictured right) asked her parent’s permission to join the Order of Saint Ursula (OSU) in Charleston, S.C.  In 1847, the convent dissolved, and she moved to the new OSU location in Cincinnati, Ohio. She later became Mother Mary Charles.

“The young lady entered the chapel accompanied by the mistress of the novices, who conducted her to the railing before the altar. She was robed in a beautiful white dress with a long train, the trimmings being rich lace, with a trailing long white veil, thrown over her head, and falling far below her waist. As the ceremony is considered a spiritual marriage, the costume is eminently proper in every respect.”

The Ladies of the Cenacle or the Cenacle Sisters were a society that conducted the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1906, a request was made by Mrs. Fortune Ryan to Bishop Northrop for a Cenacle in Charleston to be formed, the third in the United States. The sisters supported themselves by teaching French, Italian, and music. A few years later, a Cenacle in Boston was formed which immediately grew and called for more sisters. The sisters from Charleston were sent to Boston and the Charleston Cenacle closed. In March 16, 1913, Bishop Northrop said the last Mass in the chapel and consumed the Blessed Sacrament. The next day, the sisters left Charleston by boat and headed to New York.

Back of postcard written by a Cenacle Sister, 1909.

August 21, 1909

My very dear Emily,

You have written me a very good letter and I would like to answer lengthily, but since you have given me permission, I am using a card today, postponing the pleasure of talking with you. I am very happy to know that you are far from here, because the heat is sweltering; if this continues, there will be nothing left of us. Are you feeling better? My best regards to Marie, remember me to you mother.

To you my affection,

G.T. Ba[?]

The Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius began their ministry in the Diocese of Charleston in 1946. They immediately began teaching at St. Patrick’s in Charleston and eventually taught throughout the area including, St. Mary’s in the city, Blessed Sacrament and St. Joseph in West Ashley, Nativity on James Island, Holy Spirit on Johns Island, Divine Redeemer in Hanahan, St. John in North Charleston, and Our Lady of Good Counsel on Folly Beach. The sisters were also involved in adult literacy, the Crisis Center, prison ministry, and the Christian Youth Organization.  They also directed choirs and worked with the underprivileged.