‘White Sisters’ mark 100 years in City by the Sea

Daughters of the Holy Spirit continue ministry of caring for those in need

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NEWPORT — On Sept. 22, 1909, four members of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit arrived in Newport. Within eight days, the Sisters began their charitable mission of caring for the sick and the elderly—a mission that has grown over the past 100 years and continues strong today.

Facing religious persecution and exile from France, “The White Sisters” as they were known (due to their long white robes) began arriving in America in 1902. At the invitation of Bishop Matthew Harkins of Providence, the four Sisters came to Newport and established their first community in a small cottage on Williams Street.

Only a month later, on October 22, 1909, St. Clare Home Corporation was formed at a meeting held at St. Mary’s Rectory that included Bishop Harkins, Rev. William Meenan (Pastor of St. Mary’s Church), Philip Clarke, MD, James Cottrell, Nicolas Dwyer, DeLancey Kane, Fredrick Garrettson, and Andrew Quinn, The Corporation purchased the Francis Malbone House, located at 329 Thames Street. Through the generosity of Marion Ramsey Cutting, the building was completely renovated and the Sisters moved to the site on August 8, 1910.

From this location, the Sisters ran a nursery school and a home for “working girls” and, in 1927, began the self-supporting Saint Clare Home for Aged Women serving twenty elderly female residents. In 1971, Saint Clare Home moved to its current location at 309 Spring Street. Three years later, in September 1930, the day nursery moved to the newly constructed Garrettson Memorial building at 299 Spring Street where it operated for more than 75 years.

“The charism of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit is ‘to live together in the spirit of Pentecost and to participate with others in His mission of love in the world,” said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. “They have given 100 years of dedicated service to the Newport community by caring for, teaching, and giving comfort to those in need—physically, morally and spiritually.”

Today, Saint Clare Home is a non-profit skilled nursing facility caring for forty-seven residents and is staffed by eighty employees. It continues to grow and maintains the mission of the original Daughters of the Holy Spirit, giving comfort and care to all in need. The chapel at Saint Clare offers Mass six days a week attended by both residents of the home and the community at large.

Today, two Sisters reside at Saint Clare’s convent and remain active in the community. Sister Saundra Porter works at Saint Clare Home assisting residents with activities and meals and serves as

sacristan.

“Sister Saundra’s dedication and loving commitment to the residents of Saint Clare Home has a powerful and positive influence on the quality of care we provide,” said Mary Beth Daigneault, Administrator, Saint Clare Home. “Her work today continues to fulfill a mission the Daughters of the Holy Spirit began in Newport a century ago.”

Sister Madeleine Gregoire is an Associate Professor of mathematics at Salve Regina University, maintaining a connection between the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and the Sisters of Mercy (founders of Salve Regina) that dates back to their arrival in America. When the first Daughters of the Holy Spirit began arriving in the US in 1902, the Sisters of Mercy from the Hartford, Connecticut Diocese took them into their home and taught them to speak English and helped them adapt to their new country.

“Sister Madeleine has been a valued member of our faculty and a strong contributor to the university’s intellectual, spiritual and cultural fiber for 29 years,” said M. Therese Antone, RSM, Ed.D., Chancellor, Salve Regina University. “Her contributions to the school and the community are inspiring to those around her and a benchmark to which others should aspire.”