Our Heritage

Sister Marguerite
Felicite Boute

Sister Febronie
Chappelon

Sister St. Protais
Deboille

Sister Delphine
Fontbonne

Sister Febronie
Fontbonne

Sister St. John
Fournier

Sister Celestine
Pommerel

French Roots
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet is a congregation of women religious which traces its origin to and follows the spirit of the foundation made in LePuy-Velay, France around 1650 by Jean Pierre Medaille, a Jesuit priest, with Francoise Eyraud and her five women companions, under the pastoral care of Henri de Maupas, Bishop of LePuy. Dedicated to the practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear neighbor (Primitive Documents), the community had a rapid growth until the time of the French Revolution when convents were suppressed and the sisters were forced to live as lay persons. Mother St. John Fontbonne was one of these sisters. She returned to her parental home and continued to minister to others as she had done before. Many sisters were imprisoned and some guillotined, and Mother St. John herself was arrested and placed in the prison at St. Didier. However, the crown of martyrdom was not to be hers – the eve of the day scheduled for her execution saw the fall of Robespierre – July 27, 1794 – which meant the end of the Reign of Terror. So, released from prison, she and her companions returned again to her parent’s home. In 1807 Cardinal Fesch, Bishop of Lyons, asked her to reestablish the Sisters of St. Joseph in his diocese. So through Mother St. John the Congregation maintains continuity with the community founded by Father Medaille.
American Start

A combination of circumstances contributed to the first establishment of the Sisters of St. Joseph in America. Through her work with the Propagation of the Faith, Felicite’ Duras, a Countess, was greatly moved by a letter from Bishop Rosati, the first Bishop of St. Louis, asking for sisters who would undertake instruction of deaf-mutes. She offered to defray the expense of establishing a community of Sisters of St. Joseph in this diocese of St. Louis. She had a great love and admiration for Mother St. John Fontbonne and asked her to send the sisters to America. The bishop would accept six sisters to instruct the children, and in addition to these six, two others be included to teach the deaf.

So the first six sisters, the oldest 30, the youngest 21, set sail from LeHavre, France January 17th, 1836 on the ship, the Natchez. They arrived in New Orleans March 5th after seven weeks at sea. Bishop Rosati had arranged for them to stay with the Ursuline Sisters and met with them the next day. (And he planned to travel north with them to St. Louis.)
The sisters enjoyed the hospitality of the Ursulines for two weeks, learning much about life in America. The sisters also told them to disguise their religious habit when going abroad and while traveling to St. Louis.

St. Paul

The Sisters of St. Joseph first arrived in St. Paul in November 1851. St. Paul became a Province in 1860. More information coming soon.

Archives

Information coming soon...