Obituary

 

Sister M. Pancratius Hughes, IHM

Sister M. Pancratius Hughes, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, February 25, 1914 at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

She was born on July 4, 1863 in White Haven, PA, and given the name Bridget Teresa. She was the daughter of the late John and Ann Keclin Hughes.  She entered the IHM Congregation at St. Rose Novitiate in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1881, received the religious habit on April 12, 1882, and made profession of her vows on April 14, 1884.

Sister Pancratius was an accomplished musician and as a novice, she compsed a reception hymn that the Sisters held dear long after her death.

Sister Pancratius served as a music teacher at the following schools: Holy Rosary Elementary School in Scranton, PA; St. John Academy in Pittston, PA; St. Cecilia Academy in Scranton, PA; All Saints' Elementary School in Masontown, PASt. Mary Elementary School in Hollidaysburg, PA; and St. Basil Elementary School in Dushore, PA.

Sister also served as local superior at the following convents, St. Basil's Convent in Dushore, PA; St. Mary's Convent in Hollidaysburg, PA; and All Saints' Convent in Masontown, PA.

The Mass of Christian burial will be on Saturday, February 28, at 9:00 a.m. at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Scranton, PA.  Interment will follow at the Marywood College Cemetery on the grounds of Marywood Collegein Scranton, PA.  Friends may call on Friday at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.


 "Sister M. Pancratius had, while a novice, composed the music of the beautiful reception hymn so dear to the Immaculate Heart Sisters."

(Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 451)


"There are many ties that bind the old novice to the new, but one of the most beautiful among them is the singing of the reception day hymn, composed by a novice of old Saint Rose's, Sister M. Germaine, and set to music by another novice of Saint Rose's, Sister M. Pancratius. Every novice since then has been invested in the holy habit during the singing by the Sisters' choir of the beautiful words of the hymn entitled "Chosen."

Chosen, chosen, God's beloved,

Happy, blessed is thy lot;
Earth forgetting, joys renounced,

By the world unknown, forgot.
Pure the heart that answers Jesus,

"Take thy cross and follow Me,"
Happy soul that hears Him say,

"Daughter, I have chosen thee."

Wilt thou give thy heart?
Wilt thou give thy heart?
In the lone and tempted hour.
Daughter, wilt thou give thy heart?

"Canst thou leave thy home. My child?

And for Me thy friends forsake?
Courage, for My Holy Love

Will thy spirit satiate.
Tore Mine Altar wilt thou stay.

Like an incense-breathing flower.
Tarry while the world forgets.

Watch with Me the silent hour.

"Take the Cross, espousal gift.

As a sign of union blest.
And when weary, come, My dove,

I will soothe thee, be thy rest.
When thy life shall be no more.

And the Cross fore'er laid down.
Will I wreathe thy virgin brow

With the lily's fadeless crown."

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p.157,158


"All Saints', Masontown, was the second school opened in the Pittsburg Diocese by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart..."

"The school was opened September 25, 1911. Sister M. Pancratius was the first superior. With her were associated Sister M. Patricia, Sister M. Hilary, Sister M. Carmelita, and Sister M. Padua. Many of the students come in from the surrounding country places, walking long distances each day. They are rarely absent and their eagerness to learn makes the task of teaching them a delightful one. There is a large music class and these music loving children have organized among themselves a very creditable orchestra. The school is a recreational as well as an educational centre. There is a large auditorium perfect in all its appointments. Here the pupils give plays from time to time, that never fail to draw large audiences. Father Kolb has also installed a moving picture machine. Masontown bids fair to become one of the finest cultural centres in Pennsylvania."

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p.327, 329


"SISTER PANCRATIUS DIES AT MT. ST. MARY'S

Last evening at Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Scranton, Sister M. Pancratius, of the Sisters' Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, following a brief illness died. The deceased's religious life was well known in the city, having labored for many years at Holy Rosary Academy, and later at St. Cecilia's Academy, Scranton, Pa. Sister M. Pancratius, whose family name was Hughes, was born in White Haven, July 4, 1862. She was the daughter of John Hughes and Ann Keclen. At the early age of eighteen she entered the novitiate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Rose's, Carbondale, Pa and on April 12, 1882, received the habit from the Right Rev. William O'Hara, D.D. her profession took place April 14, 1884. After profession, she was sent to Holy Rosary Academy, North Scranton, and taught music there for many years. In 1891 Sister M. Pancratius was transferred to St. John's Academy Pittston, and remained there until 1902, when she was transferred to St. Cecilia's Academy. In September 1907, she was appointed Superior at Dushore. Later she filled the same post in the Convents of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Hollidaysburg and Masontown. During the thirty-three years of her religious life the deceased Sister labored most zealously in the cause of education. She was an accomplished musician and possessed all the inherent qualities that mark the born teacher. Her bright, cheery disposition endeared her to her pupils, while her fidelity to her religious duties and obligations won for her form her Sisters and pupils alike admiration and respect. Her funeral will take place Saturday morning at 9 am from Mount Saint Mary's Seminary." -- Wilkes Barre Times, Feb 27, 1914