We Support The Sisters
When LATE NITE CATECHISM began in 1993, nuns weren’t really sure what to think of our little comedy. In fact, we had a rough time getting them to see it. But once they did, word spread and we’re proud that so many Sisters have seen and loved not only LATE NITE CATECHISM, but the other “nun” comedies, our BIBLE BINGO series, and our other religious performances.
At our one-year anniversary, we had the idea of making a donation to one of the orders in Chicago. It wasn’t until 1995 that we found an order willing to take the money: the Carmelites at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville. And once we got one order to accept the money, it was easy to convince the other orders to do the same.
So you might ask why we collect for the nuns?
The obvious answer is that we want to give back to these women who did so much for all of us. And we also urge people who have come to see our shows to donate on their own, to find orders who taught them and to make a donation.
It always surprises people to learn that the nuns are not cared for by the dioceses or archdioceses in this country. To make matters worse, when Social Security was implemented in the United States, the Catholic Church opted out to cover the nuns. So they were pretty much on their own.
Some orders did buy into Social Security and the nuns receive very small stipends. However, most orders rely on whatever fundraising they can do to make ends meet.
At the end of each performance, we encourage everyone in the audience to give generously, even if it’s just a buck or two. Today, I’m proud to say that this little play, LATE NITE CATECHISM, all the shows it spawned, and all the actresses playing “Sister,” or “Mother Superior,” or Mrs. Mary Margaret O’Brien, around the world, have together collected and distributed well over $3 million to various orders of nuns for their retirement needs.
–Vicki Quade
Some of the orders we have supported:
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
Sisters of St. Joseph, TOSF
Sisters of the Living Word
Cordi-Marian Sisters
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of St. Francis
Sisters of Providence
Mercy Nuns
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Felician Sisters
Little Sisters of the Poor
Community of St. Francis
Carmelite Sisters
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sisters of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN
Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ
Mercy Nuns of Guam
Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids
Sisters of Charity
Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of the Divine Redeemer
Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg
Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa)
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
And many, many more.
