In the Archives of the U.S. | Toronto Region of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, located in St. Louis, even a few fragile pages can open a window into a remarkable moment in our history.
Region Archivist Monte Abbott recently discovered four issues of Echoes from Sion in the Toronto Archives, a newsletter Sr. Euphrasia Gleason created during World War II. The newsletters shared news from Good Shepherd communities in France at a time when war had made ordinary communication nearly impossible.
Today, these four issues may be among the only surviving copies of Echoes from Sion. The archivist at the Motherhouse in Angers, France, has no additional copies or information about the newsletter, and none have been found in other North American collections.
A Patchwork of History
During the war, the Motherhouse in Angers was behind enemy lines in German-occupied France. Mother General Sr. Ursula Jung sent her assistant, Sr. Euphrasia, to Portugal so she could continue the Generalate’s communications work.
From Portugal, Sr. Euphrasia gathered news about the sisters in France through letters, word-of-mouth reports and messages passed along by people traveling between countries. Postal services were slow and unreliable, and letters were often lost. At times, news from France reached her only after a letter had first made its way to England or the United States and was then forwarded to Portugal.
The resulting newsletters became a patchwork of information, preserving glimpses of what the sisters were experiencing during the war.
Communication itself could also be a security concern. The newsletters occasionally noted the need for secrecy, showing the challenges Sr. Euphrasia faced as she worked to keep communities connected across distances.
A Mission That Connects Us
More than 80 years later, the way we communicate has changed dramatically, but the purpose remains: staying connected so the mission can continue.
These fragile pages are more than historical documents. They offer a glimpse of a community that refused to let war, distance or uncertainty break its bonds. Preserved in the Archives, Echoes from Sion allows us to hear those voices again and remember that our mission has always been carried forward together.
About Sr. Euphrasia
Sr. Euphrasia Gleason, born Eleanora Gleason, professed her vows in Angers in 1900 and was missioned to Chicago in 1905. She later served in Peoria, Illinois, before being appointed assistant superior general back in Angers in 1928. From 1940 to 1945, her mission in Portugal placed her in a unique position to serve as a bridge between the Motherhouse and Good Shepherd communities around the world.
