Sisters of St. Joseph - Post-Revolutionary France

Post-Revolutionary France

The new Congregation enjoyed rapid growth, expanding into eighteen houses during the first decade. By the time of the French Revolution, almost 150 years later, the Sisters had spread to twelve dioceses in the southeast corner of France. The Congregation of Saint Joseph was disbanded during the French Revolution and was re-established in 1807 by Mother St. John Fontbonne in Lyon, France.

In 1789, religious communities were forbidden by the state. The convents and chapels of the community were confiscated in 1793. The Sisters were forced to choose between returning to their families or leaving France to join communities in other countries. Some of the Sisters who remained became martyrs. Three in Dauphiné and two Haute-Loire were sent to the guillotine because they refused to take the Civil Oath. Others were imprisoned at St-Didier, Feurs and Clermont.

Mother Saint John Fontbonne was unable to restore her original convent. However, the Vicar General, the Abbé Claude Cholleton, invited her to Saint-Étienne to take charge of a little band of religious representing different communities which had been disbanded during the Revolution. In several places the Government approved of the return of the sisters to their long-vacant convents, and in some cases Revolutionary proprietors sold back to the sisters the property which had been confiscated. 22201 As word of the Sisters' services and good deeds grew, dioceses throughout France requested the services of the restored Congregation.

In 1812 a colony of Sisters was sent to Chambéry, in Savoy, France under Mother St. John Marcoux. In 1843 Mother Superior was assumed by Mother Félicité. More than eighty houses rose beneath her hand, and when, in 1861, a state normal school was opened at Rumilly, Savoy, France. it was placed in charge of the sisters. Meanwhile the Chambéry sisters had been constituted a diocesan congregation, but as years went on a stronger administration became necessary.

The rule was therefore revised to meet the requirements of a generalate, and papal approbation was granted in 1874 by rescript of Pius IX. Under the new form of government the congregation is subject to a superior general, whose term of office is six years and is divided into provinces, each possessing a novitiate.

The novices, after two years probation, make annual vows for two years, after which they bind themselves by perpetual vows. The rule is based on that of St. Augustine. In 1902 many French houses of the religious institute were closed by the Government, in consequence of which a large number of Sisters left for Denmark, Russia and the United States.

In 1819 a foundation from the motherhouse in Lyon was established in the Diocese of Belley under the leadership of Mother Saint Joseph Chaney. In 1823 the Sisters of that diocese formally separated from community in Lyon. They became a new and independent diocesan congregation under the leadership of Reverend Mother Saint Benoit Cornillon and the authority of Bishop Alexander Devie.

Several other foundations spread from France throughout the world.

Today, the Sisters operate many Catholic schools and hospitals in France, United States, Canada, Japan and England. In India they operate hospitals, homes, and orphanages.