Mother Marie

Stephanie Fredericka Amalia La Roche von Starkenfels von Vulté, a French noblewoman, followed a surprising path to become our co-founder as Mother Marie. Fanny, as she was called by her family, was born October 28, 1812, and was raised as a member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. She became Catholic on June 14, 1851, and was disinherited by her family.

Following her conversion, Fanny sought to enter religious life. Hearing of her search, Bishop Ketteler asked Fanny to consider co-founding a new congregation with him. She agreed.

On October 10, 1851, just four months after becoming Catholic, Fanny entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Providence at Ribeauville, France. Her completion of the Novitiate there prepared her to become the first Superior of the Sisters of Divine Providence on November 15, 1852.

Meanwhile, a group of women had been gathering in Finthen, Germany, waiting for Mother Marie to complete her formation. When she arrived in Finthen as their Superior, Mother Marie faced the temperamental behavior of Father Anton Autsch, confessor and spiritual director for the Congregation. Less than three years later, Bishop Ketteler transferred Mother Marie to a different ministry, perhaps at her request and knowing that she would bear any suffering with obedience and trust.

In May of 1855, Mother Vincentia Schultheiss became the second Superior of the Sisters of Divine Providence. Mother Marie became the Superior in Herrnsheim, the Community’s first mission, where a small group of Sisters had been sent to teach children and women, and to care for the sick. In the midst of what must have been a challenging transition, Mother Marie wrote to Mother Vincentia, saying, “I am a deeply rooted old weed.”

On June 23, 1856, Mother Marie was transferred again, this time to Neustadt, Germany. She became the Superior of that convent and, with her Sisters, prepared a newly-built orphanage to be dedicated as St. Marien Orphan Home on August 24, 1856.

Sacrificing her health to minister to the sick during a typhoid epidemic at the orphanage, Mother Marie died on August 1, 1857. She was buried in the parish cemetery at Neustadt.