Five pioneer women of Providence travel to the American West

On October 26, 1856, 167 years ago, at the “repeated request of the Bishop of Nesqually (Northwestern Territory of the United States), Mother Caron, (Superior General of the Sisters of Providence at the time), and her council, decided to send a second group of Sisters of Providence to the northwestern of the United States.” A first group had set out in 1852 with the same objective, but after many twists and turns, they ended up in Chile, where a new Providence community was founded.

“Sister Joseph was chosen as the leader of the four missionaries . . . Both Mary Ellen Norton and Sister Blandine-des-Anges, 18 years of age, were bilingual. Mary Ellen Norton would be an asset in educating the youth as would also Sister Blandine. Adélaïde Thériault, 30 years old, showed signs of the contemplative spirit which would support the active days that lay ahead. Her plea had been: ‘Take me with you… I can carry your baggage and I will serve you well’. Capable, and only a few days in 0the religious community, she had come out of a not-well known past with the desire to work and pray. Then there was Sister Praxède, the niece of Bishop Jean-Charles Prince, 36 years old, a woman of singular maturity who had lived six years under the direction of Mother Gamelin. Both she and Sister Joseph, were to have the singular responsibility of transmitting the mission and spirit of that holy foundress. In November, the group set out with Sister Joseph at the head. Bishop Bourget had announced that henceforth “of the Sacred Heart” would be part of Sister Joseph’s religious name. Only two months earlier, the decree had been promulgated that the feast of the Sacred Heart would be observed in the universal Church. »

Such is the beginning of a remarkable part of the history of the Sisters of Providence, which we want to highlight and announce in these few lines.

Source: He has given me a flame, Providence Collection, p 14-15.