08/24/2026
Today, the Grey Nuns celebrate our Foundation Day. As we mark this special day, we share these poignant words from our Foundation Prayer, written by Sister Eileen White, GNSH, and reflecting on the history, faith, and spirit of our Congregation:
"On August 24, 1921, the Congregation of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart came into being at D’Youville/Holy Angels, Buffalo, New York. When the elections were completed, Cardinal Dougherty addressed the group.
'…..Our Holy Father, after deliberation and prayer, and after consultation with the College of Cardinals, had decreed that a new Congregation be formed for the Grey Nuns by separating them from the former Motherhouse in Ottawa. The elections were held this morning . . . and now a new Congregation has been born into the world.'
More than 100 years later, we Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart look back on all that has been our story – the beautiful and hopeful of it; the difficult and painful of it; the loving and faith-filled of it. We remember today all those Grey Nuns on whose shoulders we stand. Let’s pause for a moment to remember all the Grey Nuns who have gone before us.
We remember all those whose lives were enriched by our service. We remember those whose generous support, faithfulness and affection enriched us as individuals and as a congregation.
Let’s pause for a moment to remember them – students, colleagues, orphans, parishioners, priests, laypeople, board members, families, elderly and young, women and men – all those who journeyed with us over the past 103 years.
As we mark this milestone in the story of the Grey Nuns, we remember that a hunger for love has been placed deep within our heart. We give God praise for this gift of loving that leads us to extend our heart and hands to other men and women. We give praise for the loving communion of the human spirit that comes to us in family, friendship, and in the community of faith.
May we continue to listen to God's voice calling us to follow in the spirit of St Marguerite d'Youville, whose faith in Divine Providence led her to spend her life in loving service to anyone in need whose path crossed her own."
