Sister Blandina Segale

Her first outpost was Public School No. 1, where she had no difficulty explaining that bad things happen to people who break moral laws. When the town’s hulking sheriff had to face down a lynch mob, Sister Blandina stood with him. Later she found a way to repair the school, a crude adobe hut where the roof dripped cockroaches on her students’ heads. After the locals told her that there was no money to fix it, Sister Blandina took a crowbar and climbed up on the roof to do the job herself. At the sight of that, six men arrived with tools and adobe molds. They took over, telling her that women were only fit to do white washing. This was man’s work. Still, she showed them how to make the plaster.

excerpt from

Sisters: Catholic Nuns and the Making of America—John J. Fialka.

St. Martin’s Press. New York, NY. 2003

Those who wish to read more about these incredible women and their gift of service to the church and the world can do so in John’s book, which you can order from Amazon.com or receive directly from SOAR! for a donation of $50. This donation will support retired religious sisters and brothers through the work of SOAR! To receive the book for your donation, please contact Danielle Bell directly by email or by phone at 202.529.7627.

May 2014