| The Sisters of St. Joseph in Georgia became affiliated with the oldest
foundation of the order in the United States in 1922. This affiliation was
approved by Pope Benedict XV, February 13, 1922. The order is now known as the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The first Foundation was established at
Carondelet, Mo., in 1836, and the Centennial of this foundation was celebrated
March 25, 1936.
Origin of order
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was canonically established at
Le Puy, France, on October 15, 1650, by Rt. Rev. Henri de Maupas, Bishop of Le
Puy. The Order was founded some time before this by Rev. Jean-Paul Medaille.
Father Medaille brought to the attention of Bishop Maupas the Congregation he
had founded and its objects.
For about one hundred and fifty years the Order went through periods of
progress and periods of persecution, but as the years passed they grew in
members and grew in good works accomplished. Then, almost overnight, you might
say, the terrible French Revolution, which failed to distinguish between the
good or the evil, swept away their all. In 1793 the convents and chapels of the
Sisters were confiscated (a nice word for stealing). The Sisters were driven
out, some were officially murdered, martyrs for Christ. Many were placed in
jails and dungeons. Among the latter was Mother St. John Fontbonne.
In 1807, through the assistance of Rev. Claude Cholleton, Vicar-General of
Lyons, Mother St. John, who escaped death in the Revolution, re-established the
Order, which has continued to grow to the present day.
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