Real-Life Sister Acts

Photo Collage - Real-Life Sister Acts

Prior to WWII, Catholics were often treated as a minority group, viewed with suspicion and prejudice. Post-WWII America marked a turning point for Catholicism in the US as public figures like Bing Crosby, JFK, and Sœur Sourire (Sister Luc Gabriel, OP, known as the Singing Nun) brought Catholics into the mainstream. Their public presence helped challenge anti-Catholic biases and made Catholicism more relatable to the average American.

Catholic Sisters were key players in this cultural shift. A confluence of factors, including the growing need for higher education among Catholic Sisters and limited resources available in their communities, led to the formation of singing groups.

These groups toured the country, raising funds through performances and record sales to support their educational pursuits. Music served as a powerful spiritual expression, allowing the Sisters to share their faith and devotion with audiences nationwide.

On January 15, 1967, fresh off their successful ‘Sisters ’66’ tour, the Sisters of St. Benedict of Erie, PA, made a memorable appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. They shared the stage with pop icon Petula Clark, Muppet sensation Kermit the Frog, & rock legends the Rolling Stones.

Their performance lives on YouTube!

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTY2TU4-gS4

Photo Collage - Real-Life Sister Acts

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Story & photos courtesy of:

Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania
Sisters of the Incarnate Word & Blessed Sacrament, Parma Heights, Ohio
Sisters of Loretto, Nerinx, Kentucky
Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, Ohio

Additional Credits:
https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/entertainment/local/2014/11/30/the-heldenfiles-new-documentary-looks/10346148007/

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/debbie_reynolds/pictures

https://nationaltoday.com/birthday/john-f-kennedy/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0724833/

“Good Material Their Habit,” The Pittsburgh Press. 1966-10-18, p. 62. Retrieved 2024-12-18.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTY2TU4-gS4

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