The Cause of a founder of a US religious order devoted to person-to-person ministry has been approved by the US bishops.
On the first day of their general assembly in Baltimore, the bishops
agreed to a request from Cardinal Timothy Dolan to proceed with the next
step in the canonisation process for Mother Mary Teresa Tallon.
In April Cardinal Dolan, acting as the archbishop of New York, signed
the edict officially opening the diocesan inquiry into Mother Tallon’s
life, heroic virtues, reputation for holiness and events attributed to
her intercession.
The order’s motherhouse is in Monroe, in the Archdiocese of New York. Mother Tallon is buried on the grounds of the motherhouse.
The cardinal asked for the bishops’ endorsement as the local bishop
promoting her Cause. Their vote came after consultation held toward the
end of the morning session of the meeting; episcopal consultation is a
step in the Catholic Church’s canonisation process.
Mary Teresa Tallon was born in Hanover, New York, on May 6, 1867, to
Irish immigrants. At 19 she joined the Holy Cross Sisters in South Bend,
Indiana, and for 33 years taught poor and neglected children in
Catholic schools.
In 1920, she founded a new order, the Parish Visitors of Mary
Immaculate, as a community focused on contemplation and door-to-door,
personal ministry. As explained in a biography of Mother Tallon on her
order’s website, she particularly wanted to “reclaim lapsed and
uninstructed Catholics for the heart of the Good Shepherd”.
The biography said that “even as a young girl, she was seen to be
magnetic, compelling and persuasive. People were drawn to her and held
by her fervour and enthusiasm, especially for the things of God”.
She died in 1954, leaving behind a community that continues its
person-to-person ministry in New York, New Jersey, the Diocese of
Phoenix and in dioceses in Nigeria and the Philippines.