Thanks for joining us for our 14th season of Holy Donors, featuring another little-known Catholic philanthropist named Margaret Haughery. Margaret was an astute businesswoman who responded to God’s call to serve children in need. Books and online sources have nicknamed Margaret “the mother of orphans”,“friend of orphans”, and more; yet we turn to our hosts to decide if Margaret meets their holy donor criteria of generosity, humility, and faithfulness.

Like many of our other holy donors, Margaret was an Irish Catholic immigrant who came to the U.S. as a child, yet her first years in her new country were marked by tragedy. She lost most of her immediate family to yellow fever, and in a Cinderella style story, Margaret was orphaned and sent to live life as a young servant. Margaret never learned to read or write, yet as will be seen in her later years, Margaret was proactive and wise far beyond her formal education.

When she was 21 years old, Margaret married Charles Haughery and, together, they had a child named Frances. Unfortunately, Margaret’s string of tragedy continued, and both Charles and Frances passed away within a few years. With all of her immediate family gone again, Margaret turned to volunteering at a Sisters of Charity orphanage in New Orleans.

In her efforts to serve and care for the children at the orphanage, Margaret showed her skills in fundraising and business. She saw problems and found solutions. Her passion to serve led her to do whatever it took to make sure the orphans in her charge were well cared for. At the end of this episode, however, Margaret and the orphans are facing eviction. What will happen next? How will Margaret solve this seemingly insurmountable problem?

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Recommended reading:

"Margaret, Friend of Orphans" by Mary Lou Widmer

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