SHA Cordecho Fall 2020

n 1918, the Spanish Flu pandemic arrived in the United States killing 670,000 Americans and 50 million people worldwide. As the disease spread, public gatherings were limited and many cities asked their citizens to quarantine in an attempt to protect the healthy and stop the virus. The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity provided continuity of education for elementary students at Stella Niagara and the women attending Sacred Heart Academy in the midst of the pandemic. Shortly after the new school year began on September 3, 1918, the flu hit the Buffalo, NY area, quickly spreading throughout the city. The sisters and their students were no exception. About 40 students and six sisters were afflicted by the illness. Buffalo’s Mayor George S. Buck declared the city under quarantine fromOctober 11 to November 1, 1918. This included the temporary closure of Catholic churches and other places of worship. While parishioners could not gather inside, the weather on the first Sunday in quarantine was beautiful and Holy Mass was held outdoors. Unfortunately, the Sundays moving forward were more autumnal and did not provide warm enough weather for outdoor services. Within a few weeks, due to intense care, strict adherence to protocol, and lots of prayer, the sickness left the community, and the affected sisters and students recovered. The end of the period of quarantine fell on All Saints Day, just in time to celebrate this holy day in the liturgical year. A century later, Sacred Heart Academy began the 2020-2021 school year in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Much like our community 100 years ago, we have all worked together to gather safely and stop the spread of the disease. Physical distancing measures in the hallways, desks placed six feet apart, one-way stairwells, wellness checks each morning, frequent hand sanitizing at stations placed around the building, and requiring masks have all contributed to our success in reopening. We also have students still learning remotely, “Zooming” in on their classes in real-time. Stella Niagara, early 1900s. Photo courtesy of Archives of the Sisters of St. Francis of Holy Name Province, Stella Niagara, NY Student artists are separated by plexiglass to keep students distanced and safe. 6 C O R D E C H O S P I R I T . M I N D . B O D Y . A CENTURY APART The Franciscan Experience of