The year 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Marie-Madeleine d’Houet. Readers may be tempted to say “Marie-Madeleine who?” It is likely, however, that bells will begin to ring for many people, some young, some not so young, because for the past 136 years the F.C.J. Sisters have been involved in education on Teesside and Marie-Madeleine was the Foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus or F.C.J.s for short.
What is Marie-Madeleine’s story? Marie-Madeleine grew up in central France in the aftermath of the French Revolution. In 1804 she married Joseph de Bonnault d’Houet and they had a brief but very happy marriage. They shared the same interests, one of these being visiting the sick. Unfortunately Joseph caught fever and died during the first year of marriage. Three months after his death Marie-Madeleine gave birth to their son, Eugene. Widowed and surely lonely, she busied herself with the upbringing of her child but made certain she found time to continue her visits to the sick in their homes and hospitals. She worked alongside the Daughters of Charity in caring for the poor men coming back from the Peninsular War but slowly she became aware of an inner desire to give her whole life to God in the service of others and she thought seriously of joining a religious Order. Marie-Madeleine spent months, and even years, in a state of inner turmoil during which she beseeched God to make known to her what He wanted her to do with her life. She was very attracted to the way of life of the Jesuit priests, particularly their spirit of ‘Finding God in all Things’ and she relied on them for guidance. At times even their support was lacking and she felt totally bewildered and alone.
However, Marie-Madeleine never gave up, continued to pray and slowly and painfully, almost against her will, the conviction grew within her that God was asking her to found an Order of Apostolic Women who would not have any particular work but who would take their inspiration from Mary, the Mother of god and the holy women of the Gospel who were FAITHFUL to Jesus even to the foot of the Cross. She insisted that the name of the Order include the name of ‘Jesus’. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart 1817, as she prayed before the crucifix, she heard the words “I thirst” and she understood these words to express the ardent desire of Jesus to bring God’s love to all people everywhere. Shortly after this experience she committed herself to a life of COMPANIONSHIP with Jesus and with everyone she would meet on the journeys of life. This, too, is what she would ask of the women who were to join her Order, the FAITHFUL COMPANIONS OF JESUS which came into being in 1820.
Marie-Madeleine began her work in Amiens in Northern France with two companions, one schoolteacher and seven poor children who would be instructed in the faith, taught to read, write and sew and be trained in domestic service. Her initial apostolate, in spite of opposition from Church authorities and others, quickly expanded, other women joined her and more foundations were established in France. During the Napoleonic Wars France was not safe so Marie-Madeleine was advised to develop her mission to other countries. In 1830 she arrived, with another Sister, in Euston, London in very inclement weather and not knowing what to expect in an age when women had very little opportunity. Jesus, her Faithful Companion, was looking after her and as a result of an extraordinary coincidence she was asked to take over a well-established boarding school which she accepted with characteristic vitality. (By another extraordinary coincidence the future Bishop John Crowley was to be educated here.) She also undertook work among the poor, the destitute and the working women and young girls. Her pattern was to establish a day and boarding school, the fees of which would help supply some of the needs of the elementary school. Foundations in Liverpool, Birkenhead and Salford as well as in Ireland followed in quick succession. Her reverence for the individuality of each person was her hallmark at a time of incredible poverty and deprivation in city areas.
Knowledge of the Sisters’ work spread throughout the north of England and the Bishop of Beverley, Dr Cornthwaite, wrote to them asking for help in Middlesbrough where he described the situation as being desperate. The Sisters promised to do their best while at the same time reminding him that they needed to be supported financially. In May 1872, five Sisters arrived in Middlesbrough and took up residence in three small cottages in Mill Street, site of the old Cathedral. Their readiness to identify with the workers and their families evoked a warm and immediate response from the people. St Patrick’s and St Mary’s Schools opened in 1873. The hardships endured by the Sisters and the extreme poverty of their living conditions has been well-documented. The Sisters were key figures in helping with the opening of the Cathedral in 1878. Later, Fr Lacy’s appointment as the first Bishop of Middlesbrough brought great joy to the Sisters. On the day of Bishop Lacy’s consecration it was one of the F.C.J. Sisters who presented him with his mitre. History repeated itself on 25th January 2008 when Sr Moira Cashmore presented Bishop Terence Drainey with his mitre.
In 1896 The Newlands site in Borough Road was purchased and for many years, as well as being a thriving school, it was a focal point for events in the town. Today, on a new site in Saltersgill it is a thriving and successful mixed Comprehensive School for 11 to 16 year olds.
In 1885, Fr Green, later Canon, persuaded the Superior of the F.C.J. Sisters to come to West Hartlepool. Again several schools were established including Sacred Heart Primary and St Joseph’s Secondary. Other Sisters worked in parishes and also taught in Secondary Modern Schools in the town until finally, in the late 1970s, five Secondary Modern Schools were amalgamated to form the new English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College which continues to flourish today.
In 1992 the F.C.J. Sisters arrived in Crook, County Durham in response to an invitation from the Parish Priest of St Cuthbert’s. The Sisters are now involved in various forms of pastoral activities – carrying on the work and vision of Marie-Madeleine. They are part of a seven-strong F.C.J. Community in the north-east of England – three in Middlesbrough, two in Hartlepool and two in Crook.
Marie-Madeleine died in 1858 and was buried in Paris. Her remains, which were found to be intact, were removed to Upton on the Wirral and then transferred to Broadstairs, Kent where they remain in the Chapel of the Generalate. In November 1970 Pope Paul VI declared her Venerable, recognising the heroic virtues she consistently practised throughout her life.
It stands to reason therefore, that scattered throughout the north-east of England are men and women, boys and girls, teachers and students who have known the F.C.J.s in parishes, schools and colleges. You are all invited to a Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough on Saturday 5th April at 12 noon. There must be many priests, teachers and students, friends and acquaintances who would like to fill the Cathedral with joyful song in gratitude for the life and work of the Venerable Marie-Madeleine d’Houet.
COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE was one of Marie-Madeleine’s favourite sayings and perhaps now, as never before, we need these two virtues as we try to spread God’s love in a world that is struggling to come to terms with the complexities of modern living. To each and everyone Marie-Madeleine still says: courage and confidence knowing that we, in our turn, are called to make a difference for the better in the world.
www.fcjsisters.org