 |
I Will Be Faithful If I Am Diligent and Not Discouraged
 The young woman who wrote the words above, and was known as Sister Baptist, was born a true daughter of the Gold Rush. Miss Annie Tully was born in Columbia, California, that old frontier town that has been frozen in time by legions of California Historical and Park offices. But Annie knew the living town as a child, going to school in the schoolhouse now preserved for posterity on the far edge of that restored, fascinating hamlet in the Mother Lode country. She came to San Francisco and, as a young woman, joined the group coalescing around Lizzie Armer as its 7th member. She became part of the little community on Christmas Day 1878.
From that date until her death forty-four years later on March 11, 1922, Sister Baptist, with tireless enthusiasm, ministered as a catechist and organizer of good works in St. Brigid?s Parish and in the ever challenging Saints Peter and Paul. There, in addition to devoting herself to the religious education of the hundreds of Italian children in the area, she also established a sewing school that, in the quickly established tradition of Holy Family, prepared disadvantaged girls (AND boys) to care for and create the clothing that they and their families needed. Later, Holy Cross Parish called forth Sister Baptist?s many gifts.
In 1907, when the Sisters of the Holy Family extended their work to the city of San Jose, Sister Baptist was appointed Superior of that first branch house.There she directed the opening of new religious education centers and St. Elizabeth?s Kindergarten and Day Home. Five years later, following the death of Sister Agnes, the Community?s beloved Novice Director, Sister Baptist returned to San Francisco to take over that position.
The last ten years of her life were spent in training the youngest members of Holy Family, but also found her filling in free time by giving religious instruction to the children of Mt. Carmel Parish in MillValley. As to this last endeavor, we must not forget that there was no Golden GateBridge to MarinCounty in those days.Sister spent many hours on the ferry, making cheerful acquaintance with the passengers.She also found time to give private instruction at the San Francisco convent to prepare people for Baptism, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation.
There is no question that Sister Baptist kept that early resolution of diligence. She left no time in her faithful life for discouragement.Hers was a pioneer spirit that found fruitful expression in love and care for others.
|
|