Stories from the Archives
One of Twelve
Read about our Sister Mary Francis Henry.
This well-known traveler was born in Sligo, Ireland, on October 7, 1835. In 1852 Margaret and her family emigrated to the United States, and she lived in Paterson, NJ, then moved to Carbondale, PA. Prior to coming to the United States she was educated at Presentation Convent in Dublin, Ireland. She was described as being small of stature and wore glasses. Margaret entered the IHMs at St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Susquehanna, PA, in 1863, was received the same year, and professed in 1865. She was assigned to St. Paul Convent in Philadelphia, PA. But in 1871, when the diocese of Scranton was established and the fifteen sisters in Susquehanna were given the option to return to Reading or help form the Scranton branch of the IHMs, three sisters returned to Reading and Sister Mary Francis Henry, one of the remaining twelve sisters, decided to become part of the Scranton branch. She then was assigned to St. John’s Academy in Pittston, where she was made superior. She held this post for six years.
In 1877 she was sent to St. Cecilia’s Academy, which was the Motherhouse at that time. In 1877 Bishop O’Hara appointed Sister Mary Francis Henry as Superior General of the Scranton IHMs, and she served two terms of office–from 1877-1889 (at that time the term of office was for 6 years). She was the second Superior General for the Scranton IHMs. She was later assigned to St. Patrick’s Orphanage in Scranton, where she remained until 1901. She was made Sister Assistant and was assigned to Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary until 1906.
Her accomplishments were many. In the early days in office, she pulled the Congregation through financial difficulties; six new schools were opened under her direction; she was appointed president of the House of the Good Shepherd, which became St. Joseph’s Children’s and Maternity Hospital, now called St. Joseph’s Center. During her term in office the Scranton IHM Congregation became a legally incorporated body, and she was involved in reuniting the IHMs with Father Gillet. When her term of office was finally over she requested that the Sisters be allowed to elect the next Reverend Mother rather than be appointed and the Bishop agreed to her request.
Mother Mary Francis Henry was known as an accomplished artist and musician. She died on October 11, 1912; her funeral was held at Mt. Saint Mary’s on Monday, October 14, and she is buried here on the Marywood campus. A woman of great accomplishments and yet so humble. We ask her to help us deal with the many changes in our Congregation, in our country, and in our world.
