Healing Racism

Our IHM foundress, Theresa Maxis Duchemin, was a woman of color. Theresa’s paternal great-grandfather, Virgile Maxis, was a Negro. In 1829, Theresa was a charter member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first permanent community of Black Catholic Sisters in the United States. In 1845, she left the Oblates and set out for Monroe where with Father Gillet she founded the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Racial hatred became an obstacle that deterred her from leading her congregation and expanding its mission. Ultimately Church authorities rendered her powerless which led to her departure from the congregation and sixteen-year exile to Ottawa, Canada, where she lived with the Grey nuns.

In response to a growing realization of the painful and destructive experience of racism in our Congregations’ histories, we have created a committee of three sisters from each Congregation to focus on ways in which we can better understand and acknowledge our experience of racism while creating a culture of forgiveness, respect, healing, and reverence for diversity in all people.

Looking ahead

Recently, members the OSP/IHM Healing Racism Committee met at Villa Maria Retreat Center in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, thanks to the hospitality of the IHM Sisters of Immaculata. Although the committee has been meeting and offering programs virtually for some years, this was the first in-person meeting since the Covid pandemic. The committee discussed initial ideas for a summer program for 2026. 

A Prayer for Racial Healing

Loving God,
we desire to embrace the dignity of each human person as revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation. Help us to live our commitment to undo racism. Empower us to participate in the process of right relationships, healing and reconciliation. Strengthen us in our resolve to eradicate racism within ourselves, our congregations, our church and our global community. We offer this prayer in a spirit of trust and hope in your providence.
Amen.