"The Charter Class" Prologue

 

Prologue

August 14, 1921, Springfield, Massachusetts

 

Mother John Berchmans Somers shifted the papers in her hands as she waited in the chancellery office. Going to see the bishop was a bit like being called to the principal’s office. Bishop Beaven had always been so kind to her and to the whole Sisters of Saint Joseph community, but the Good Lord saw fit to call him to his eternal reward. She offered a quick prayer for his soul as she thought of him. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Yes, he had been a good man and a good superior. She could only hope to have as cordial a relationship with the recently installed Bishop Thomas O’Leary.

She understood that it couldn’t be easy to lead an entire diocese. The Diocese of Springfield covered much territory and included many people of varying ethnicities who lived in both urban centers and the most rural of hilltowns. Yes, she knew what it was like to bear the weight of responsibility. Hundreds of sisters, working in dozens of schools, answered to her. To some extent, the education of all those pupils weighed on her shoulders. She wanted the best for all of them: the sisters in her community and all those entrusted to their care.

She shuffled the papers once more, reviewing the topics she wanted to discuss, presuming, of course, that the new bishop was open to a conversation. She knew the pecking order. She owed obedience to him. She also knew that, sometimes, if you could convince a bishop that your idea was really theirs, your chances of having it come to fruition were much greater. And Mother John Berchmans had a big idea. Even if she couldn’t make it come to fruition yet, she wanted to plant the seed.

She checked her watch. It was eight minutes past the ten o’clock hour when they were supposed to meet. She sighed. She knew the bishop was a busy man. She fingered the beads of her rosary. She might as well pray as she waited. Perhaps it would calm the butterflies in her stomach.

Finally, at a quarter past, the bishop’s personal secretary came to get her.

“The bishop will see you now,” he said.

She nodded in a respectful manner to the young priest and followed him into the ornate office. Bishop O’Leary rose and offered a kind smile as she walked into the room. She noticed he wasn’t much taller than she was. She had spent her life looking up at people. While she had gotten used to it and never let it intimidate her, she was always thankful when she could look someone in the eye. He held out his hand. She approached and bent to kiss his ring. He offered her a blessing before she rose.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Bishop O’Leary began. “I’ve heard good things about you and your community. From what I have been told, the Sisters of St. Joseph do a great deal of good work in our diocese.”

Mother John Berchmans released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

She motioned for her to sit and then sat behind his large desk. He pointed to the papers she was holding. “I see you have come prepared.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Well, then, what can I do for you?”

This was the opportunity she had been waiting for.

“As you no doubt are aware, the Sisters of St. Joseph are deeply involved in the educational activities of this diocese. We teach children from the youngest years through high school and even beyond.”

She paused to collect her thoughts. How much did he know about their work? He had only been their bishop for a few short months. She must tread carefully.

He nodded, indicating that she should continue.

“We operate a normal school at Our Lady of the Elms Academy in Chicopee to prepare young women to be teachers. It is an outgrowth of the boarding school for younger pupils that we operate there.”

“Education is a fine field for young women. I have no doubt that your sisters prepare your students well to cultivate young minds.”

She smiled. “Indeed, Your Excellency, you can rest assured that we do. Our graduates teach in many of the local public schools and are held in high esteem.”

“That is good to hear. Even if they work in public schools, these women bring their Catholic faith and education with them. It is an important ministry, albeit one of a less obvious sort.”

“I agree. Educating future teachers is part of our mission, and we plan to continue that, but the world is changing. Educational expectations for teachers are becoming more demanding. Other fields and opportunities are opening up to women as well, not to mention the important role women have to play as mothers in raising future Catholics. I fear the young women of our diocese need more educational opportunities than we are currently providing.”

Bishop O’Leary folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. Mother John Berchmans resisted the urge to rush to fill the silence.

“Our diocese has fine colleges in both Holy Cross and Assumption in Worcester,” the bishop stated.

“Yes, many of the bright young men from our Catholic high schools have matriculated at both of those institutions and done quite well.”

“But women are not able to attend those schools,” he pointed out. “Mt. Holyoke and Smith are both excellent colleges for women in our area, but they are not fertile soil for nurturing the Catholic faith.”

“No, Your Excellency.”

Mother John Berchmans could almost see the wheels turning in the bishop’s brain. She silently offered a quick prayer to the Holy Spirit to enlighten him. Her dream could become a reality if only she had his permission and backing. She knew it would take time and effort and perhaps a few miracles along the way, but it was something she had brought to the Lord and Our Lady in prayer so many times. She felt confident that this was what God wanted. But she had taken a vow of obedience. Her future, and the future of so many others, rested in the bishop’s hands.

“Perhaps,” he began, “your normal school could be expanded. Surely, there must be a way to provide a modern education for Catholic young women who desire it.”

He looked at her with a steady gaze. “Would that be a challenge your community would be willing to take on? I understand it is a huge undertaking and that you are already involved in many worthwhile pursuits. If you are not able to provide this service, I could no doubt find some other community of sisters who might be willing to come here and establish a college.”

“No, Your Excellency. That won’t be necessary.” She forced herself to stay calm, to not betray her emotions. She wanted to rejoice, but there would be time for that later. “We would be happy to accept the challenge.”   

 

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