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"How happy I am that the God
of mercy put in my soul the vocation I have undertaken with
so much courage: to be associated with such a holy priest
who lives and breathes only for his children. I will work
with all my strength and will support you (Father Gailhac)
to the best of my ability in this beautiful work." (Mother
St. Jean, 1849)
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MOTHER
ST. JEAN
PELISSIER CURE
General Superior
1849-1869
Born February 2, 1809 into a well-established family
of Murviel-les-Béziers in the south of France, Appollonie
Pelissier grew up in a deeply Christian home. At twenty, she married
Eugene Cure. Together they generously supported the many works
of charity initiated by Eugene's lifelong friend, Jean Gailhac.
Eugene Cure died suddenly in November 1848. Soon after, Appollonie
offered herself and her considerable wealth towards the founding
of the religious community already envisioned by Father Gailhac
for the direction and service of the women's shelter and orphanage
of the Good Shepherd which he had begun. On February 24, 1849,
Appollonie moved to the Good Shepherd where she and five companions
became the first members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart
of Mary.
As
co-foundress and first superior, Appollonie, now known as Mother
St. Jean, worked closely with Father Gailhac and governed the
Institute until her death. During her time as superior the shelter
for women was transformed into a preservation for young girls
at risk, and a boarding school for girls was begun. As the young
Institute took on a variety of works Mother St. Jean emphasized
the need to strengthen unity in the midst of this diversity. During
her lifetime the Institute grew to seventy two religious–sixty
French and twelve Irish. An important moment for the new Institute
was the granting of legal status in 1856 by decree of the Emperor
Napoleon. Mother St. Jean Pelissier Cure died on March 4, 1869.
