Jewels from Jane,Oct.30

"On October 30, 1842, we lost our dear Sister Francis Joseph [Anne Eliza Dillon – age 22]. Well do I remember the rough box which the village carpenter made for her last couch, but which was transformed into a beautiful casket by the deft, ingenious hands of the heroic band of which she was a worthy member. I seem still to see the great tears that, silently and unheeded, fell on the black cloth, with each stroke of the hammer, as they prepared that lonely abode for the earthly remains of our beloved teacher. It was on a Sunday afternoon after Vespers that she was borne by the Sisters, followed closely by her white-haired, sorrow-stricken father and her youngest sister, to her last resting place, a sheltered, quiet spot, in the north east corner of the little cemetery near the village church [Sts Mary and Joseph]."

From the diary of Eliza McKenney Brouillet

(Student at St. Joseph's Academy from 1840-1846)

Sister Francis Joseph Dillon was the first American to enter the Congregation.

She was born in St. Charles, MO in 1820.

"She was the daughter of Patrick McAndrews Dillon, a wealthy Irish land-holder of St. Louis. Her mother died when she was a child, and together with a younger sister, she was placed with the Ladies of the Sacred Heart at their Academy in St. Louis, where she received an excellent education and acquired great fluency in French. It was here at school in 1836 that she met Sisters Delphine [Fontbonne] and Felicite [Boute], who during their first few months in America went to the Sacred Heart Convent for English lessons. The young girl was drawn irresistibly to the two Sisters...she was attracted by poverty; and on finishing her education, she gave up everything that she possessed of this world's goods, and with the reluctant consent of her father, went to Carondelet and asked for the poor habit of a Sister of Saint Joseph. This she received on January 3, 1838."

From The Congregation of St. Joseph of Carondelet by Sister Lucida Savage

Jewels from Jane, Sept. 23

"Mother M. Felicite Boute died at our House of Retreat at Nazareth on the 23rd day of September, 1881, in the seventy-first year of her age and the forty-sixth of her religious profession.

"This dear Mother was one of the six Sisters of St. Joseph, that composed the first colony sent from France, to establish our Congregation in America. There are probably few of our Sisters who have not had occasion to become personally acquainted with this venerable and true religious, and who have not been edified by the example of her many virtues especially her humility, her child-like simplicity and candor, her exact obedience and love of the Rule, and her cheerful gaiety during the hours of recreation. Her memory will be held in benediction by all who knew her, and learned to appreciate her worth. Mother Felicite died of apoplexy, and though her death was sudden, it was not unprovided. It bore the stamp of God's special love and favor in her regard. For a long time past, but particularly during the last year of her life, she seemed to live, as if each day was to be her last. May she rest in peace. Amen."

From Necrology of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Jewels from Jane, Sept. 3

"Twelve novices made their vows in Carondelet during 1854, the largest number that had yet been professed in one year; but Mother Celestine still found the number too small to meet the growing needs of the Congregation, and appealed to the Mother House at Lyons for recruits. Lyons could not spare subjects for America at that time, but aid came from an unexpected quarter. In Savoy, in a Seminary of the diocese of Tarentaise, was Abbe Miege, brother of John B. Miege, Vicar Apostolic of Indian Territory. Abbe Miege was a friend of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Moutiers, and through him his brother in America entered into correspondence with these Sisters. The result of the correspondence and also of a consultation between Bishop Miege and Mother Celestine in the summer of 1854, was an arrangement made by him with the Superiors in Moutiers, who promised to send Sisters from that place to Carondelet, with a view to undertaking later the education of the Indian children in his vast territory. [The jurisdiction of Bishop Miege extended over Kansas and Nebraska, and included all the Indian tribes west to the Rocky Mountains. He was then residing at St. Mary's Kansas, in the neighborhood of the Potawatomi settlements.]



"Mother Therese Buisson was Superior of the pious community of Moutiers, which had become deeply interested in the foreign missions through the Annals of the Propagation of the Faith. The zeal of the Sisters was stimulated by the recent departure from Savoy of many priests and religious for the East Indies, among the latter, members of the neighboring communities of Annecy and Chambery. [The first Sisters of St. Joseph to go to the Indies left France in 1848. In the fall of 1853, another band of six left, accompanied by several Fathers of the Society of St. Francis de Sales.]



"Mother Therese had no difficulty in getting volunteers for America and from them she chose Sister Euphrasia Meiller, late Superior at St. Sigismond, Sister Saint John Facemaz, Sister Gonzaga Grand, and Sister Leonie Martin. The most fervent daughters of Moutiers, Abbe Bouchage calls this first missionary band of a community which he describes as composed of 'select souls whose names should be inscribed on the tablets of history for the edification of the faithful and as an example to the religious of the future.'



"Leaving Moutiers on September 3, 1854, accompanied by Mother Therese, the missionaries made brief visits to the communities of St. Sigismond and Chambery, and then proceeded by stage to Lyons. Here they were warmly received by Mother Sacred Heart Tezenas, successor to Mother Saint John Fontbonne. At Lyons, they parted with Mother Therese, and placing themselves, as did the missionaries of 1836, under the protection of our Lady of Fourvieres, proceeded to Paris, where they remained for a short time at a house of the Congregation in the Rue Monceau. They sailed from Havre on October 21, and by a strange coincidence, the name of the vessel was Heidelberg, the same as that on which the first Sisters came in 1836. [The first Sisters came on the Natchez.] On board was Right Reverend Augustus Mary Martin with four priests and several seminarians for his diocese of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

"The Sisters landed at New Orleans December 7, the same date on which another band, as yet strangers to them, arrived in Canandaigua. After a few days spent with the Tertiary Carmelites in New Orleans, they proceeded by steamer to St. Louis, which they reached December 21, and where they were welcomed with open arms by Sister Felicite [Boute] at St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum. On the following day, Mother Celestine, who had come in to meet them, conducted them to Carondelet. Brave and courageous souls, who had obeyed literally the Gospel precept to forsake home and country, whey entered at once into the active life of the community, to which at least three of them, were to render long and faithful service. [Sister Euphrasia Meiller died in March 1859. The Sisters of St. Joseph did not go to Bishop Meige's diocese. On the occasion of that prelate's visit to St. Louis during the Provincial Council of 1858, the Superior of a colony of Sisters of Charity from Nashville, looking for a home in another diocese, appealed to him on the advice of the Jesuit, Father De Smet; and with the permission of Archbishop Kenrick, was received with her community under his jurisdiction.] Though young in years, they were all women of unusual ability, thoroughly imbued with the principles of the religious life, and animated by the spirit of sacrifice that characterized the pioneers of 1836. In Sister Saint John, who was in her thirtieth year and had spent eleven years in the convent, Mother Celestine, herself a woman of deep piety, was quick to recognize the strong and enlightened faith that measured temporal things only in the light of eternity, and the remarkable spiritual insight that rendered her peculiarly fitted for the guidance of others. Sister Saint John was chosen a member of the Council at the Mother House, and in that capacity, rendered invaluable assistance to Mother Celestine."



From The Congregation of Saint Joseph of Carondelet by Sister Mary Lucida Savage.

Jewels from Jane, May 31

"The Sisters of St. Joseph had at their Mother House in Carondelet a Novitiate of their Order, an Academy with 130 pupils, an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and an Orphan Asylum containing twenty-eight orphans. Sister Celestine was in charge as Superior with seven professed Nuns. In St. Louis they conducted a day-school near St. Vincent's Church with three Sisters and two novices, and one hundred and twenty pupils.

"Another House of the Community in St. Louis had under its direction the diocesan Orphan Home for boys of whom there were one hundred and twenty. Sister Felicite [Boute] with five professed Sisters formed the community:

In 1849 the Sisters stationed at St. Vincent's Convent, having closed their school, "fearlessly gave themselves to the relief of the sick and dying neighbors."[during the cholera epidemic] Two of their number, Sisters Frances Nally and Justine Mulhall, were seized with the dread symptoms of cholera. Sister Justine was but eighteen years of age "a young woman of rare innocence, and extraordiary personal beauty," in the agony of dying had but one wish, that of renewing her vows on the morning of the Visitation [May 31]. Archbishop Kenrick remained at her bedside until after midnight that her dying wish might be fulfilled. On July 28th, 1849, the Archbishop wrote to his friend Mark Anthony Frenaye in Philadelphia:...Eleven religious women are among the victims, two of the Sisters of Charity, two of the Sisters of St. Joseph, one of the Visitation and six of the Sacred Heart.

"...There is another Sister of St. Joseph mentioned in the Catholic Directory of 1850, as having died of the cholera at St. Joseph's Orphanage, Sister M. Antionette Kincaid."

from History of the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Rev. John Rothensteiner c1928

Jewels from Jane, Mar. 25

"At last they arrived in St. Louis, the Episcopal City of Bishop Rosati, March 25, 1836.

"When they arrived the Bishop was in hope that he been in time to say Mass but it was too late. They go first to the Cathedral to thank God for their happy voyage. Then the Bishop send them to the Sisters of St. Vincent Hospital. The Sisters put them in little house that they had on Third Street in the end of their garden. Some time Bishop come to say Mass in Sisters Chapel and all the Sisters of St. Joseph went with them. But during the Holy Week the Sisters go to the Cathedral to attend at the ceremonies.

"They had the visit of Father and some priest. They try to see who could pronounce best the English.

"A holy priest, Father Doutreluigne, CM, Parish priest in Cahokia 3 miles [across the river in Illinois] from St. Louis, ardently desire to have Sisters of St. Joseph's instruct the children of this parish, compose in great part of Canadian. During two years this good priest eat only corn bread and often deprive himself of nourishment that he might found an establishment that could assist him in his holy ministry. The Bishop Rosati touch [through] his zeal and charity decide to give him the Sisters.

"Then he select Mother Febronie Fontbonne that was nominate our Superieuress in Lyons was to continue and go to Cahokia. Sister Mary Febronie Chapellon and Sister St. Protais Deboille would go to Cahokia. Sister M. Delphine Fontbonne, Sister Felicity Boute and Sister Philomene Devilaine would remain in St. Louis to learn English.

"The day of the depart had arrived. All started from St. Louis; His Lordship accompany his Dear Daughters in Cahokia. When they had cross the Mississippi they find number of people that had come from Cahokia with their little carts. They were waiting on shore, then every one go on carts and started in woods. They arrived about at noon. Their first visit was in Church [still standing today] to adore Our Lord in blessed Sacrament. When they had their dinner in priest house, the Priest had only two rooms, one for himself, the other his housekeeper and family, and for the cooking they had a little passage between. They had nice corn bread -- some like it very much and some not like it. After dinner the Bishop and Father Fontbonne went to the convent to fix the cooking stove.

"The population of Cahokia speak a kind of French Canadian, less difficult to comprehend and to learn than the English. They were all so glad and happy to receive the Sisters and with joy they prove for what they think they need.

"One day a Lady send to them a large bowl of pottage of rice gombeau [gumbo] and chicken. They put it on Sisters table. But looking at it they said we could not eat for it was Friday. They told it to the Lady, who said that it had no meat, she had only boiled the chicken in it. They had grand laugh at her simplicity.

"Madame Turgon, a rich lady, had built for the Sisters a pretty nice Chapel close to the Convent, and the Sisters could decorate it with the ornaments that they brought from France.

"Immediately they open their School they had great number of children, and [so many] boarders that they were oblige to enlarge the house.

"Those brave Canadiens love that French establishment and the sound of the Convent bell of the little Chapel of the Sisters on the shore of Mississippi, and on the borders of the great forest that surround them had indefinite charm.

"They venerated the Sisters as saints and charitable country women [who] come from the same Mother as their Catholic France to have care of their sick, their poor, their children. For them they think of them as their Mothers.

"But the Father Doutreluingue had not the pleasure to enjoy the fruits of his labor and sacrifice for he had purchased the house and pay for it from his one privation [need] and economy.

"He was commanded by his Superior Father Timan to go home. The Sisters feel it very much and were very much afflicted to be deprived of so good benefactor for he had given them the house and the field.

"Bishop Rosati send them a young French priest Father Condamine in the month of August. He fell sick with bilious fever. He was on point of death. Then it happen that Father Doutreluingue was traveling pass in Cahokia, find the priest so sick, remain with him, had care of him until he die, give him the last sacraments and sing High Mass and perform the funeral service. He is bury in Church yard near the Church.

"The Sisters were very thankful to God to have sent the good Father Doutreluingue to assist Father Condamine. Some of the Sisters had been very sick already, they were [a] little better but they would not let them go to Mass and funeral.

"Madame Jarrot and family were good benefactor to the Sisters. If they had need of some things the Sisters go to them as they would go to their own Father.

"Madame Boismenu and family were also very good to the Sisters. They often bring chickens and other things that they think the Sisters would like to have. For long time they had not need to buy anything to eat.

"Bishop Rosati send Father Loisel to Cahokia. He was from St. Louis. His mother and sisters were living in St. Louis. He remain until the high water of 1844.

"As the Sisters were sick, Sister Philomine had to come from St. Louis to Cahokia to take care of them but one could not be cure[d].”

From the handwritten journal of Sister St. Protais Deboille

She never mastered the English language very well.