Delille, Henriette (Henriette Díaz)

1813-1862 · Contribution: 1836-1862

Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family

Founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans in 1842, the second-oldest surviving African American Catholic religious order in U.S. history

Religious & Spiritual Leadership — collage image
Religious & Spiritual Leadership

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Quick facts

Born
1813, New Orleans, Louisiana
Active since
1836
Category
Religious & Spiritual Leadership
Best known for
Founding the Sisters of the Holy Family; candidate for sainthood

Impact on the world

Delille devoted her life and entire fortune to serving New Orleans's enslaved and free Black population, building a religious order for women of color at a time the Catholic Church itself barred them from existing congregations.

Sources

  1. USCCB (On the Road to Sainthood)

1 more sources and references are available to members.