Tattered heart inspires daughters everyday

Jordan McMorrough
Today’s Catholic

Sister Mary Diane Langford, CDP, reads a passage from her recently published work,
“The Tattered Heart,” at a reception at Our Lady of the Lake University earlier this month. On the table in front of her is a pioneer quilt sewn by her sister, which is the featured artwork on the book cover.
Jordan McMorrough | Today's Catholic

Feltin

    SAN ANTONIO • The Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP) celebrated the release of The Tattered Heart, a historical fiction written by Sister Mary Diane Langford, CDP, on Dec. 3. The book is based on the life of Mother St. Andrew Feltin, a French sister who founded the religious order in Texas in 1866 and established the first parochial school system in the state.
    The book presentation took place in the Renaissance Parlors in the main building, a venue Mother St. Andrew Feltin graced when she was alive. Guest of honor at the ceremony was Jim Sarrail, the great-great-nephew of Mother St. Andrew Feltin.
    The Tattered Heart relays a fascinating story of the founder’s unyielding reliance on providence and love for God in spite of hardships and failures, said Sister Langford, who added that her love of history led her to write this book.
    Mother St. Andrew Feltin, a Sister of Divine Providence of St. Jean-de-Bassel, France, came to Texas in the mid-1860s at the invitation of Bishop Claude Dubuis. While she was the superior of the Texas branch of the French-based congregation, the order opened schools in 20 towns, providing the first parochially-based school system for the dioceses of Galveston and San Antonio.
    Her mission, as directed by Bishop Dubuis, was to educate both boys and girls in small farming communities by establishing village elementary schools. She herself set up classrooms, even teaching all grade levels, and staffed the parochial schools with young sisters.

    Mother St. Andrew Feltin taught her nuns to become qualified teachers, and gave them the tools needed to earn a certificate and their credentials.
    Among the 23 schools she opened were St. Louis in Castroville in 1868, St. Anthony in D’Hanis in 1870, St. Mary’s in Fredericksburg in 1870, Sts. Peter and Paul in New Braunfels in 1870, Annunciation in St. Hedwig in 1872, Immaculate Conception in Panna Maria in 1872, St. Joseph in Solms in 1872, and St. Joseph Academy in San Antonio in 1875.

    The Tattered Heart traces Mother’s life as a child in Alsace, France, her career as a teaching sister in three Alsatian villages, her journey to America, the establishment of the Texas motherhouse in Castroville, and her years as the first superior general of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Texas.
    The congregation’s first motherhouse was erected in Castroville in 1871, which now serves as the Moye Retreat Center.

    After being deposed from her position of superior general of her fledgling congregation by Bishop John Neraz of San Antonio, Mother St. Andrew left her habit behind to accompany her newly widowed brother and seven of his children to San Jose, Calif. Out west, she raised the youngest children and supported the family by beginning a grocery store.

    During the years that Mother St. Andrew was estranged from the congregation, Mother Florence Walter moved the congregational headquarters to the edge of Lake Elmendorf, just west of San Antonio. There, Our Lady of the Lake Academy eventually evolved into a college, and finally, a university.
    In 1900, aged and frail, Mother St. Andrew Feltin returned to Castroville, rejoining her beloved congregation. She died at the Divine Providence Convent there in 1905.

    The congregation that she formed is still best known for providing elementary and secondary schools throughout Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, in addition to OLLU. The sisters now minister across the United States and Mexico helping those in need by serving in parishes, hospitals, nursing homes, counseling centers and social service agencies.

    The author of the book, Sister Langford, read a passage of her work and signed copies of the publication at the Dec. 3 reception.
    She has ministered as a Sister of Divine Providence for more than 25 years and presently writes, consults and provides retreats and workshops.
    A native of Tulsa, Okla., her background includes teaching history in high school, ministering as a hospital chaplain, providing supervision for residence halls at OLLU and providing pastoral services to several Midwestern parishes and congregational administration.

    All proceeds from the sale of The Tattered Heart benefit the care of the aged and infirm Sisters of Divine Providence of San Antonio. Books can be purchased at the Our Lady of the Lake Convent Gift Shop, 515 SW 24th St., Barnes and Noble booksellers, or ordered online at the Web sites, www.iuniverse.com and www.Amazon.com.