mother butler mission guild
20 Jul
Altar of the St. Lambert Church, Skokie
“Joy and cheerfulness are contagious, they work like magic in attracting hearts. Joy and happiness in the service of God are an absolute necessity.” - Mother Marie Joseph Butler
Mother Butler Mission Guild
The Mother Butler Guild is an organization of Catholic lay women whose main liturgical work is the sanctification of its members and their fellowmen through the service to the Lord in the care and cleanliness of the altar, preparation and provision of altar linens and vessels, altar clothes and vestments for the local and mission churches.
The Guild is named after its Foundress Mother Marie Joseph Butler, an Irish nun of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who also founded the Marymount College in America. Her outstanding love for Jesus in the Eucharist impelled a devotion towards the care and upkeep of the altar.
Who is Mother Butler?
Mother Marie Joseph Butler
Johanna Butler was born on July 22, 1860 in the Rower, County Kilkenny, Ireland. She entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the age of sixteen in Béziers, France. As a young religious she spent over twenty years ministering in community schools in Portugal. In 1903 she was sent to the United States.
Popularly known as Mother Butler, Mother Joseph was the foundress of Marymount School and College in Tarrytown, New York. Her conviction of the educational value of international experience led her to established the first study abroad program through Marymount College.
Mother Joseph served as vicar for the RSHM community in the United States. On August 26, 1926 she was elected general superior. During her time of leadership new foundations were established in the United States, Brazil, France, Italy, Portugal, Great Britain and Ireland, and the Institute was divided into provinces in 1938. She remained general superior until her death on April 26, 1940.
Sources: Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, WikiPilipinas.org, Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Bulacan, Phil.
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