My Third Great-Aunt

Note: This piece was written by Providence Associate Janet Tosick, detailing her third Great-Aunt, Sister Rose Haag.

Coming to America

In 1833, Rosina Haag came to America with her large family on the ship Frances. Rosina was 8-years-old, and the sixth of nine children. Her parents were Georg (George) and Anna Maria Bishop Haag. They were from Blys Polia, Baveria, Germany. (Although Rosina was registered at Ellis Island as Rosina Haag, her name on her tomb stone at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, is Sister Rose, Mary Eva Haag).

The family sailed from Port Havre de Grace France in March of 1833 and arrived at the port of New York the middle of July of 1833. Upon arriving in America, the Hag family settled in Jennings County in southern Indiana.

Rosina’s older brother, Anton (Anthony), was 13 when they arrived in New York. Years later, Anton married Margaret Paryea and they had 10 children. Our family is related to Sister Rose through Anton and Margaret Haag. One of their daughters, Catherine Haag, married Frank Hamant. Bill Hamant was Frank and Catherine’s son, our mother’s father, and our maternal grandfather.

Entering Community

When Rosina Haag was 20, in 1845, she entered the community of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Noitre Pere Corbe … conferred the religious habit upon three postulants, and Sister Rose Haag, a young German postulant. (Volume 1 of the History of the Sisters of Providence, page 453)

Sister Rose had the privilege of being received into the community in 1849 by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, and living 11 years under her kind influences. Sister Rose was one of the witnesses summoned to give testimony in the process of the Beatification of Mother Theodore Guerin. (The Archives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods)

In 1848, the winter was severe, but there were some mild days. Bishop Bazin desired some of the sisters to help move into the mother house in Vincennes. Mother Theodore was ill and suffering from Indiana’s cold winter weather, but Sister Anastasie and Sister Rose, were young and strong, and rushed to and fro with a will. Mother Theodore directed the young women from her bed. (Volume 1, History of the Sisters of Providence, page 487)

From 1847 to 1852, Sister Rose was employed in domestic duties at St. Rose Convent, Vincennes. From 1852-1868, her duties were at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

In 1848, dear Bishop Bazin became very ill. As he lay sick and dying, Sister Rose was one of six sisters who were present in his room. (Volume 1, History of the Sisters of Providence, page 505)

In March 1856, Mother Theodore entered the last days of her life. In Mother’s diary, she penned: “I am obliged to keep my bed. What a beautiful week to be upon the Cross. O good Cross, I will love thee with all my heart.”

When Sister Rose came into Mother’s room after breakfast to set it right, Mother said to her, “Ma Fille, I left Mass. It is my last.” (Volume 1, History of the Sisters of Providence, page 780)

As the days passed, Mother Theodore became more ill, and it was evident she would not recover. Ill as she was, the Sisters had access to her almost to the end. “Prayers were made without ceasing,” wrote Sister Mary Cecilia Bailly. The sisters fasted, prayed and showed their love and devotion for their dear Mother. All day, on March 13, the sisters gathered around her bed, praying, crying and keeping watch. Sister Mary Cecilia sat at the head of Mother’s bed. Just past midnight, Father Corbe gave her the last absolution, and recited prayers for the dying over and over. Her breathing came slower and slower, until the last sigh.

Blessed to know Mother Theodore

How blessed Sister Rose must have felt, to be a sister with Saint Mother Theodore. After Mother died, Sister Mary Cecilia Bailly was voted Superior General of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Although Sister Rose was a domestic sister, her duties included helping Sister Mary Cecilia in writing her journals. She was Mother Cecilia’s trusted and devoted companion for 45 years. (The Archives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods)

Sister Rose was a small woman, but must have been healthy, escaping the many diseases of the times: Yellow fever, cholera and small pox, were a few diseases mentioned in the history of the Sisters of Providence. She was in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods community from 1845 until her death in 1916. She was loyal, a hard worker and devoted to her vocation. Our Grandfather, Bill Hamant, was very proud of Sister Rose. He had her picture for many years.

Before he died, he gave my mother the picture to pass down to family members. Grandfather Bill was born in 1887, so he must have known her, possibly visiting Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as a boy. In 1898, Sister Rose spent a year in Indianapolis where Grandfather Bill Hamant lived with his parents in St. Anthony’s Parish.

Of the domestic, lay sisters, Saint Mother Theodore wrote:

“They are very devoted. They have an excellent spirit, gay, pious, hardworking, and so obedient as to edify us greatly. Some of which are pillars of the Community. (Volume 1, page 718)

Besides living at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Rose lived and worked in Lafayette, Chesterton, St. Augustine, Fort Wayne, St. Ann Orphanage, Terre Haute and St. Vincent Orphanage in Vincennes.

At the age of 85, Sister Rose went home to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to spend her last years. She had a terrible pain in her legs, but she never complained and became more spiritual in her later years.

She received the last sacrament of the dying and calmly expired at 1:40 a.m., on February 21, 1916. She was a sister for more than 70 years. (The Archives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods)

Since Sister Rose was one of the last sisters who personally knew Mother Theodore, it was very sad when she died. She is buried in the first row of the sisters, 10 graves from the cross of Saint Mother Theodore. Years ago, this section was lovingly called the “Saint’s Patch.”