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Stories from the Archives

About Sister M. Genevieve Morrissey, IHM

The feast of the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth reminds us of a visitation of sorts between Theresa Maxis and a young sister, Sister Genevieve Morrissey.

The feast of the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth reminds us of a visitation of sorts between Theresa Maxis and a young sister, Sister Genevieve Morrissey. Theresa had been exiled with the Grey Nuns in Ottawa, Canada, for 18 long years, and other than a single letter in those years and reception of an annual Christmas card from Sister Ann Schaaf, Theresa wrote regularly to no avail—she did not know the IHM sisters had been forbidden to write to her and she suffered great loneliness. But on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila in 1881, Theresa joyfully received a letter from Sister Genevieve Morrissey.

Sister Genevieve Morrissey
Sister Genevieve Morrissey

Sister Genevieve had been with Mother Theresa Maxis, her superior, in Susquehanna for two years. When she was just 19 years of age she was sent to Philadelphia but later returned to Susquehanna. Sister Genevieve had asked for and received permission from Mother Francis Henry and the Bishop to write to Theresa. Genevieve assured Theresa she had not been forgotten by the IHMs and that they longed for her return to her own “Sisters in Blue.” The letters by Mother Theresa to Sister Genevieve are preserved. It is on these letters that the book, Paths of Daring Deeds of Hope, by the late Sister Margaret Gannon, was written. Sadly, Genevieve’s letters to Theresa no longer exist.

Who was this young sister, Genevieve? Born Bridget Morrissey in Ireland on August 15, 1844, she entered the community in Susquehanna in 1859 when she was only 15; her reception was in 1860, and on her 17th birthday in 1861 she made her vows. Genevieve taught at St. Alphonsus, Susquehanna, St. Paul, Philadelphia, and the Academy of the Immaculate Heart in Reading. She returned to St. Alphonsus in 1870, and in 1871 decided to remain with the Scranton IHMs. She served as directress of schools and music, and for 18 years was Sister Assistant to the Superiors General.

Sister Genevieve Morrissey
Sister Genevieve Morrissey

Sister Genevieve spent much of her life at Saint Cecilia’s in Scranton, and was known for her kindness and a loving personality. On November 20, 1903, the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple, Sister Genevieve died at St. Cecilia Academy and was buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton. Genevieve serves us well as an example of caring and tending to those in need of comfort. We are indebted to her for exemplifying Mary to Elizabeth in the life of our own Mother Theresa.

We thank the Archivist, Sister Helene Thomas Connolly, at Immaculata, for providing some of the information and the photograph of Sister Genevieve.

Paths of Daring, Deeds of Hope

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Paths of Daring, Deeds of Hope by Sister Margaret Gannon, IHM, is available to purchase on Amazon.

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