Catlzolic Ediecationnl Endeavors
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Tlze Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in tl,e Arch- diocese of San. Antonio. From the Victoria community, Houses of the Order were founded at Houston in 1873, at Shiner in 1879, 55 and at Hallettsville in 1882. All were independent of the founding House, as the rule then required. In 1939 the Communities of Hallettsville, Shiner, and Victoria united and became the coordinate founders of the Congrega- tion of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of San Antonio. Previous to the Union, members of the Hallettsville community in 1926 transferred their Motherhouse and Novitiate to San Antonio, Texas. The new House was named Blessed Sacrament and Incarnate Word Convent. In 1927 a school known as Blessed Sacrament Academy was opened, and in 1932 it was fully accredited by the State Department of Education as a senior high school. The Community accepted calls for Sisters to teach in the parochial and public schools. Hospital work was also undertaken, and the Huth Memorial Hospital, Yoakum, Texas, was taken over by the San Antonio Commu- nity in 1933. The Convent of the Incarnate \Nord was founded at Shiner, Texas, was later placed under the patronage of St. Ludmila, and is now known as St. Ludmila's Academy. The present modern four-story brick building was erected in 1916. The Reverend Francis Machan contributed a sub- stantial amount towards the cost of the building. By 1931 the Academy was fully accredited as a senior high school. This community also added hospital work to that of teaching in parochial and public schools. In 1934 the community purchased the Burns Hospital in Cuero, Texas. In spite of the fact that the independent houses of the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament were in general making progress, the question of Union of the Houses was long under consideration. Many attempts were made to effect a Union of all the Houses in America. No headway was made, however, until the question was reduced to a Union of the Houses in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. As great as was the need of Union, even greater was the need for revising the Constitutions. The Order was founded as a strictly cloistered organization, and di~pensa- tions from provisions of the Rule often had to be obtained in order to carry on the work in which the Sisters were engaged. In 1939 the Union was effected between the three Houses in the Arch- diocese of San Antonio, with the necessary authorization from Rome. ~nd the "Congregation of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of 55 For a detailed history of these Housei; ~ee Holworthy, fl,P. cit., 85-116.
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