Mother Marie Alma

" Remember your leaders who spoke

the word of God to you..."

Hebrews 13:7

Monsignor John Zwijsen

Mother Marie Alma possessed a deep and abiding ever growing love for Jesus Christ, for the Church, and for the Congregation. Steadfast in her commitment to the mission and spirit of the Congregation, Mother Marie Alma resolved to remain faithful to her unconditional love of her divine Bridegroom, to the principles of Monsignor Zwijsen, and to witnessing to the Gospel Message as a true Daughter of the Church. It was then that Mother Marie Alma requested permission from the Holy See to begin a new Congregation of Diocesan Right. After prospering as a Diocesan Congregation for twenty-three years, the Sisters requested Pontifical recognition of the Congregation from the Holy See. This honor was granted by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, on November 1, 1993. Having valiantly led the Congregation through turbulent times, Mother Marie Alma went to meet her Divine Bridegroom on February 12, 1995.

Mother Alma Lafond, Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church, entered religious life on September 7, 1932 and professed her perpetual vows on May 22, 1939. Mother first taught in the Elementary school of the Dioceses or Norwich, Connecticut and was chosen in 1954 to be the first diocesan school supervisor. Mother served in this capacity until 1962 and was greatly esteemed by the Sisters of the diocese who grew to know her and to recognize the goodness, wisdom, and leadership qualities of this great woman. It was in 1958 that Mother Marie Alma was made Provincial Superior of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Sisters of Charity in America - a position she held until 1970 when she received permission from Pope Paul VI to begin a new autonomous Congregation of diocesan right here in America under the title Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church.

Monsignor John Zwijsen began his Congregation on November 23, 1832 simply to "establish a school where poor children could be taught reading, writing, sewing, and knitting". The three Sisters, assisted by twelve young women, were in charge of the school. He placed his new Foundation under the guidance of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and urged that each Sister imitate her in her "obedience of faith" to the Will of God. Convinced that this foundation was to be solely a parish effort, Monsignor refused to send his Sisters to minister in other parishes. He would assist pastors in their efforts to begin similar organizations but his Sisters were to remain only in his parish.

It did not take long for Father Zwijsen to become aware of the great need to educate the poor children of his parish who had no opportunity of receiving an education. Divine Providence brought him in contact with three women who ardently desired to consecrate themselves to God in a special way.

John Zwijsen was born on August 28, 1794 in Driel, Netherlands. Since childhood, it gradually became evident that God had begun to prepare this young man for an important role in the Catholic Church of the Netherlands and his challenging task of founding two religious congregations. On December 20, 1817 John was ordained a priest and served in several parishes before he was assigned as pastor at Tilburg in 1832.