Sister Mary Stephen Durbin (born Philomena Durbin on August 4, 1868) was from Mooleyville, Kentucky, Born only 3 years after the end of the Civil War, she and her 9 siblings grew up in Kentucky, a border state. This position led to mixed post-war sentiments. Their father, Stephen F. Durbin, had attempted to join the Confederacy but was unable to reach them because the Union Army was positioned on his route. During his absence, however, a Yankee gunboat landed near his home and the crew asked his wife, Mrs. Mary Durbin, for a meal. She gave them pork and homemade biscuits which they received with great curiosity and appreciation, leaving afterwards without damaging any property. The 10 Durbin children remained Southern in temperament but were able to see the “coming of the glory of the Lord” in the preservation of the Union.
As a child, Philomena saw the era of the Industrial Revolution, when manufacturing multiplied seven times over, and the transcontinental railroad brought goods and growth everywhere in the nation. During this time, when she was 10 years old in Mooleyville, Nazareth, too, was growing rapidly, with vocations and new missions. When she was 13, her sister Laura went to Nazareth and became Sister Beatrice.
The Durbins first learned to know and love the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth at St. Theresa Academy which opened in 1867. It was at first staffed by the Sisters of Loretto, but they withdrew in 1869. A few months later, six Sisters were sent from Nazareth to reopen the school. Their presence influenced the Durbins as several members of the family entered the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Three Durbin sisters entered the Community. Between herself, her sisters, Sister Beatrice, and Sister Joseph Leo, together they offered more than two hundred and ten years of service as Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. A procession of Durbins continued into fourth generations, with the entrance of two nieces, Sister Patricia in 1917, and Sister Josina in 1922, a great-niece, Sister Margaret Mary in 1941, and a great-great-niece, Sister Lawrence Marie, in 1960.
Philomena entered the Congregation in 1887. On January 18, 1888, she received the habit and the name Sister Mary Stephen. The novices in those days heard of Mother Catherine Spalding from the first-hand accounts of older Sisters who had known her. They received daily instructions from Sister Marie Menard at study hall, which they called “Minor”. But there was not much time for study. There was too much work to do: carrying buckets of water from the cistern to the dormitory every night and making big fires in the stoves to heat the dormitories. Sister Mary Stephen was afraid of that duty and didn’t like when she had to go up after supper in the dark to close the many scattered outside shutters.
Her first years in religious life were spent as a teacher in Ohio and Tennessee. Sister Mary Stephen’s first mission was St. Patrick’s School in Memphis, where she taught -and perhaps spoiled a bit- the third-grade girls. She next taught the fifth and sixth grades in the newly opened school of St. Mary’s in Shawnee, Ohio, a mining town. At St. Bernard’s in Corning, Ohio, another mining town, conditions were not yet modern. Sister Mary Stephen and her three companions lived strenuously, carrying their water and fuel and keeping their large home by their manual labor (all while teaching double grades).
In 1909 Sister Mary Stephen returned to Nazareth as a member of the Nazareth Council with the office of procuratrix. When she arrived at the Nazareth Motherhouse, so much had changed, the old convent had been demolished and replaced by the beautiful colonial hall and porch. As procuratrix, Sister Mary Stephen, who had been providing for four Sisters, suddenly found herself faced with – and terrified by – the job of feeding all at Nazareth. She managed the storeroom, which had few canned goods, but quantities of dried navy beans, rice, and hominy. These items were a staple of the Sisters diet, however, there was plenty of fresh bread, and beef for steak and gravy at breakfast. Every month, Sister Mary Stephen would buy two large bags of green coffee, which was then parched in the baker’s oven and ground in a grinder attached to the laundry motor. All this made of a busy life, but as Councilor, she was at once engaged in the events of major importance to the Community.
She was known and loved throughout the Congregation; the Sisters sought her out as a friend on every return to Nazareth, and she was elected by them every six years without fail, for they recognized her administrative ability – with the human touch. Her evenness of disposition, good judgment, and kind heart endeared her to those with whom she worked, and they gladly followed her directives. She could find fault, when necessary, yet she never embittered anyone through a correction. Her laugh was contagious, and she had a keen sense of humor. She often took boxes of food and clothing to those in need, especially during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
After serving in leadership for 40 years, finally, in 1948, she felt obliged to say she could serve no more.
At that time, she became a full-time director of Nazareth’s farm, garden, orchard, and heating plant.
As the superintended of Nazareth’s farmland (approximately 900 acres), she was jokingly called by her fellow members on the Council, “the Dean of Men.” Always businesslike, yet courteously informal with the men on the farm, who placed their fullest confidence in her. They found her approachable and ready to listen whether about problems at work or family. As a member of the General Council of the whole Congregation for nearly 40 years, she was invaluable for her grasp of every situation. Her sound judgment was true and independent. She was commonly seen on her way to some part of the farm, usually the garden, where she worked with Sister John or Sister Mary Innocentia. Silent, faithful Tony, the head gardener, was happy when she was there. She was a sight as she set off in her work attire, dressed neatly always, an old-fashioned black sunbonnet covering her white cap, a large freshly laundered black work apron protected her habit, and long stocking gloves saved her hands from pricky weeds and bushes.
Upon her retirement, she was given a room on the first floor Infirmary and became what might be called, in terms of today, the first Sister Visitor. At mealtime, she helped carry trays to the sick before taking her own, then hurried after dinner to collect and stack trays and dishes to give a pleasant surprise to the Sister nurses on their return from dinner. She made it a point to see daily every Sister on the floor, and to find countless ways to encourage, cheer, and help. Especially was she kind to the ones who had just come home or had returned from the hospital. But best of all to her, she now had time to spend at leisure with the Lord, as a chapel balcony was on the same floor.
Until she passed away at 98 years old, in the 80th year of her religious life, she remained mentally sharp and physically capable. Sister Mary Stephen had the rare gift of meeting on equal terms, everyone she encountered, the highest dignitary; old Uncle Mun, the former slave; the newest postulant, making all feel at ease in her presence, she spoke as equal to equal, as friend to friend.
Let us rejoice and be glad
In 1964 Sister Mary Stephen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. She celebrated the 75th anniversary of her religious profession with her relatives and her Sisters. In the morning of February 2, 1964 a Mass was offered in thanksgiving for the 75 years of God’s graces and blessings. An afternoon program was presented, narrated by Sister Patricia Ann, head of the Speech Department of Nazareth College, assisted by the junior professed Sisters.
“This is the period, Sister Mary Stephen, in which you have served your God, your country, and your community through the vows of religion and the service of the poor. It has brought to you your genuine 75-karat Diamond Jubilee, and your Sisters want to celebrate it with you by this little program, which we offer to you with our warmest congratulations and our deepest affection and prayer.”
Information provided by the Sister of Charity of Nazareth Archives
Author: Dana Hinton
Source: https://nazareth.org/sister-mary-stephen-durbin-a-kind-hearted-leader/
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