Joan Bartlett

Joan Bartlett OBE DSG ( born August 1, 1911 in Lancashire; † 9 September 2002) was a prominent and highly decorated Catholic in Britain. She was the founder of the Servitanischen secular institute.

Life

Joan Bartlett converted in 1941 to the Roman Catholic Church and joined the Third Order of Servites. During World War II, she was employed by the British radio station British Broadcasting Corporation in the European division. In her spare time, she worked for the British Red Cross. Shortly before the filing of the first religious profession, she joined her from going into the Servite enter back. They donated a large sum of money to the Servite Order and supported the appeals of the Servites. With the accumulated amount the religious community could purchase a property in 1946. Here the homeless, elderly and sick people and other vulnerable people help was offered. In this house of the Servite nuns also were active.

Founding of the order

In search of their personal vocation met Joan Bartlett said Chaplain Gerard Corr OSM, which they had several times helped in the church. Father Corr advised her to a service in the midst of the world. 1947 the Holy See approved the formation of the Secular Institute of the Servites. This was a new form of consecrated life, in her individual people could live an independent life consecrated in the general society. That same year, Bartlett began with the first development of a monastic rule. The spread of the community first became common in England, it was followed in 1960 Germany and Italy. 1964, the Institute was canonically recognized by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal John Carmel Heenan and incorporated into the Order of the Servites. In 1998, she became president of the Secular Institute.

Honors

In 1968, Joan Bartlett " Member of the Order of the British Empire" ( MBE ), 1977, she was awarded the Queen's Medal. In 1984 she was promoted to "Officer of the Order of the British Empire" ( OBE). 1987 she was awarded the Pontifical Theological Faculty servitische " marianum " an honorary Doctor. In recognition of their contributions gave her Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) In 1995, the Women's Class of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.