Marie Helene Franey
Encyclopedia
Mother Marie Helene Franey, S.P., (July 29, 1898 - November 23, 1953) 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. She was one of three superior generals from the United States to serve on this Commission.
, to Michael D. and Margaret (Connerton) Franey. Helena was one of six children. Because of Michael's occupation as superintendent of workshops of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
, the family moved often. They spent some time in Jackson, Michigan
, moved to Columbus, Ohio
, and settled for a time in Elkhart, Indiana
. She attended Edinboro State Normal School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania
before the family sent Helena to attend high school in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Both Michael and Margaret had sisters who were Sisters of Providence (Sister Mary Helena Franey and Sister Louis Joseph Connerton), so sending Helena there was a sensible decision. However, it was still a surprise when Helena decided to enter the convent herself. (Later, two of Helena's brothers would enter the priesthood, becoming Father John T. Franey and Monsignor Louis J. Franey.)
Helena entered the congregation on September 24, 1918, professed first vows in 1921 and took final vows in 1926, taking the religious name of Sister Marie Helene. She taught high school from 1920 through 1944 at Marywood Academy in Evanston, Illinois
; Providence High School
in Chicago
; St. Augustine in Fort Wayne, Indiana
; and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Academy. From 1928-1929, Franey took a break from teaching to study Latin at Indiana University
and earn her master's degree. She would later study at the Institute of Canon Law at Saint Louis University
in Missouri
.
as the community's general superior, earning the title of Mother Marie Helene.
As general superior, Franey established Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School
in Clarksville, Indiana
, and furnished sisters to minister in Indianapolis
; Somerville, Massachusetts
; Chicago
; Plainfield, Indiana
; and Terre Haute, Indiana
.
Franey and another Sister of Providence, Sister Francis Joseph, visited Rome during the Holy Year of 1950. In 1952, Franey and Sister Catherine Celine became the first Sisters of Providence to travel by air when they flew from Washington, D.C., to Indiana. That year, Franey was one of six general superiors to plan the First National Congress of Religious, held at University of Notre Dame
in Indiana.
Franey died in office on November 23, 1953, of an acute heart attack following a short illness. A shrine to Our Lady of Fatima
on the motherhouse grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is dedicated in her honor.
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 1948-1953. In 1952, she was appointed by the Sacred Congregation of Religious
Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for everything which concerns institutes of consecrated life and Society of Apostolic Life regarding their government, discipline, studies, goods, rights, and...
in Rome to serve on an International Commission of 40 superior generals. She was one of three superior generals from the United States to serve on this Commission.
Early life
She was born Helena Agnes Franey on July 29, 1898 in Galesburg, IllinoisGalesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, to Michael D. and Margaret (Connerton) Franey. Helena was one of six children. Because of Michael's occupation as superintendent of workshops of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
, the family moved often. They spent some time in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, moved to Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and settled for a time in Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
. She attended Edinboro State Normal School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Edinboro is a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Erie Metropolitan Statistical Area. As home to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, it is a small college town, as well as a "resort community"...
before the family sent Helena to attend high school in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Both Michael and Margaret had sisters who were Sisters of Providence (Sister Mary Helena Franey and Sister Louis Joseph Connerton), so sending Helena there was a sensible decision. However, it was still a surprise when Helena decided to enter the convent herself. (Later, two of Helena's brothers would enter the priesthood, becoming Father John T. Franey and Monsignor Louis J. Franey.)
Helena entered the congregation on September 24, 1918, professed first vows in 1921 and took final vows in 1926, taking the religious name of Sister Marie Helene. She taught high school from 1920 through 1944 at Marywood Academy in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
; Providence High School
Providence-St. Mel
Providence St. Mel School is a private, coeducational K-12 school in East Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois. The school currently has 594 students and 50 teachers.-History:...
in Chicago
Chicago
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...
; St. Augustine in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
; and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Academy. From 1928-1929, Franey took a break from teaching to study Latin at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and earn her master's degree. She would later study at the Institute of Canon Law at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
In administration
In 1944, Franey was elected a councillor of the Congregation. In 1948, she succeeded Mother Mary Bernard LaughlinMary Bernard Laughlin
Mother Mary Bernard Laughlin, S.P., was the Superior General of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 1938-1948...
as the community's general superior, earning the title of Mother Marie Helene.
As general superior, Franey established Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School
Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School
Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School is a coed Catholic high school in Clarksville, Indiana, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The school first opened on September 12, 1951....
in Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
, and furnished sisters to minister in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
; Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
; Chicago
Chicago
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...
; Plainfield, Indiana
Plainfield, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,396 people, 7,051 households, and 4,914 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,023.1 people per square mile . There were 7,449 housing units at an average density of 414.3 per square mile...
; and Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
.
Franey and another Sister of Providence, Sister Francis Joseph, visited Rome during the Holy Year of 1950. In 1952, Franey and Sister Catherine Celine became the first Sisters of Providence to travel by air when they flew from Washington, D.C., to Indiana. That year, Franey was one of six general superiors to plan the First National Congress of Religious, held at University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Indiana.
Franey died in office on November 23, 1953, of an acute heart attack following a short illness. A shrine to Our Lady of Fatima
Our 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...
on the motherhouse grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is dedicated in her honor.
Works
- The Idea of the Early Christians Concerning Death as Shown in Catacomb Inscriptions, 1929
- The Roman Forum in the Time of Cicero, 1930