Gertrude Clare Owens
Encyclopedia
Mother Gertrude Clare Owens, S.P., (March 26, 1887 - November 18, 1963) was the Superior General
of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
, Indiana, from 1954 - 1960. During her term, she established a sister-formation program to help develop new postulants and novices. She also built a new novitiate
at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, which was later named Owens Hall in her honor.
on March 26, 1887. Her father died when Genevieve was a child, and her mother's second husband, Michael Owens, adopted her and her siblings.
Genevieve was drawn to nursing and initially considered joining the Sisters of St. Joseph
, who had a history of hospital ministry. However, an aunt suggested she join the Sisters of Providence and care for ill and elderly Sisters in their infirmary instead. Genevieve entered the Sisters of Providence Congregation on September 7, 1904.
Taking the name Sister Gertrude Clare, she professed first vows on August 15, 1907, and became a fully professed Sister on August 15, 1916. On July 2, 1920, Owens was elected a Councilor of the Sisters of Providence. In this role, she managed the Sisters' Infirmary and later became in charge of several aspects of the novitiate, the training period for new sisters.
dedicated to prior general superior Mother Marie Helene Franey
, and the expansion of Immaculata Junior College and High School in Washington, D.C.
As part of her duty to visit Sisters on mission, she sent Sisters in her place to Taiwan
--then called Formosa
--where no one from the Congregation had been able to visit for years, due to the global climate of World War II
.
She also worked to improve the Sisters of Providence Infirmary. A portion of the fourth floor was in use as a convalescent area for tubercular
patients but was no longer needed for that purpose, as the spread of tuberculosis
had been halted by preventive medicines and more knowledge of treatment options. She converted this area into additional rooms for Sister patients.
In accordance with her years spent leading meditations for postulants and novices, Owens laid the cornerstone for a new novitiate building on July 25, 1959. This building, not completed until after Owens' death, was later named Owens Hall in her honor under the leadership of then-Superior General Mother Mary Pius Regnier
.
In February 1960, an illness sent Owens to the infirmary herself in a semi-coma state. Never fully recovering, she was unable to finish her term Owens died on November 18, 1963, and was buried on November 22, 1963, a date made more notable for the community due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
that same day.
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
, Indiana, from 1954 - 1960. During her term, she established a sister-formation program to help develop new postulants and novices. She also built a new novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, which was later named Owens Hall in her honor.
Early life
The second child of Michael Haughan and Margaret Tracey, Margaret Genevieve Haughan was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on March 26, 1887. Her father died when Genevieve was a child, and her mother's second husband, Michael Owens, adopted her and her siblings.
Genevieve was drawn to nursing and initially considered joining the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
, who had a history of hospital ministry. However, an aunt suggested she join the Sisters of Providence and care for ill and elderly Sisters in their infirmary instead. Genevieve entered the Sisters of Providence Congregation on September 7, 1904.
Taking the name Sister Gertrude Clare, she professed first vows on August 15, 1907, and became a fully professed Sister on August 15, 1916. On July 2, 1920, Owens was elected a Councilor of the Sisters of Providence. In this role, she managed the Sisters' Infirmary and later became in charge of several aspects of the novitiate, the training period for new sisters.
As Superior General
On May 5, 1954, Owens was elected as Superior General of the Congregation and earned the name Mother Gertrude Clare. In this role, she completed the building of Marian Cottage, a shrine to Our Lady of FatimaOur Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fátima is a famous title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared in apparitions reported by three shepherd children at Fátima in Portugal. These occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13...
dedicated to prior general superior Mother Marie Helene Franey
Marie Helene Franey
Mother Marie Helene Franey, S.P., was the Superior General of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana from 1948-1953. In 1952, she was appointed by the Sacred Congregation of Religious in Rome to serve on an International Commission of 40 superior generals...
, and the expansion of Immaculata Junior College and High School in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
As part of her duty to visit Sisters on mission, she sent Sisters in her place to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
--then called Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
--where no one from the Congregation had been able to visit for years, due to the global climate of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
She also worked to improve the Sisters of Providence Infirmary. A portion of the fourth floor was in use as a convalescent area for tubercular
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients but was no longer needed for that purpose, as the spread of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
had been halted by preventive medicines and more knowledge of treatment options. She converted this area into additional rooms for Sister patients.
In accordance with her years spent leading meditations for postulants and novices, Owens laid the cornerstone for a new novitiate building on July 25, 1959. This building, not completed until after Owens' death, was later named Owens Hall in her honor under the leadership of then-Superior General Mother Mary Pius Regnier
Mary Pius Regnier
Mother Mary Pius Regnier, S.P., was the Superior General of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 1966-1976. She held office immediately following the Second Vatican Council, a time when Roman Catholic congregations underwent drastic changes...
.
In February 1960, an illness sent Owens to the infirmary herself in a semi-coma state. Never fully recovering, she was unable to finish her term Owens died on November 18, 1963, and was buried on November 22, 1963, a date made more notable for the community due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
that same day.