Sr. Gertrude (or Catechist Gertrude, using the title the women of O.L.V.M.S. had back then) took her first vows on August 5, 1941. After taking first vows she was allowed a 10-day visit at home. This photo was taken during that visit. The little girl in front is Sr. Gertrude's eldest niece, Patricia Salitrik (now Enos). She was 7 years old and is the daughter of John & Helen Salitrik. Sister Gertrude is on the right. The nun on the left is Sister Callista Ley, who was from Pittsburgh.
Although Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters were given freedom of movement that some conservative Catholics found surprising--the nuns drove cars, for example--they never traveled alone in those days. Nuns going on home visits took a companion sister with them. Sr. Callista describes this time in her life (and mentions her Uniontown visit) in this essay on the O.L.V.M.S. website.
As always, you can click on the photo to see a larger version.
Was this photo taken at 4 Cycle Street?
ReplyDeleteYes it was. All pictures of family and friends were taken about in this area in the back yard of 4 Cycle St.
ReplyDelete