Mother Joseph
Encyclopedia
Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.P., (April 16, 1823 – January 19, 1902) was born Esther Pariseau in Saint-Elzéar, Quebec
, Canada
. At the age of 20, when she entered the convent of the newly-founded Sisters of Charity of Providence (now Sisters of Providence) in Montreal, her carriage-maker father is said to have remarked, "I bring you my daughter, Esther, who wishes to dedicate herself to the religious life. She can read, write, figure accurately, sew, cook, spin and do all manner of housework. She can even do carpentering, handling a hammer and saw as well as her father. She can also plan for others and she succeeds in anything she undertakes. I assure you, Madam, she will make a good superior
some day."
In 1856 Mother Joseph was chosen to lead four companions as missionaries to the Pacific Northwest
Territories of the United States
. There she was responsible for the completion of eleven hospitals, seven academies, five schools for Native American
children, and two orphanages throughout an area that now encompasses Washington, northern Oregon
, Idaho
, and Montana
. Today the Province
of Mother Joseph, which covers the Sisters of Providence of that region, honors her faith and pioneering spirit.
An architect and artist, she was responsible for designing some of the buildings, supervising their construction, and fund raising. Each of her "begging tours" into mining camps lasted several months and raised between $2,000 and $5,000 toward the realization of her goal. A stickler for detail, Mother Joseph often inspected rafters and bounced on planks to insure their support.
Mother Joseph died of a brain tumor in 1902, leaving a legacy of humanitarian service. While it is not true (as has been widely reported) that the American Institute of Architects
declared Mother Joseph "The First Architect of the Pacific Northwest," she did plan and build some of the region's first permanent institutions of learning and medical care. In 1980, the state of Washington recognized her many talents and contributions by naming her as one of the state's two representatives to the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection
. The bronze statue of Mother Joseph in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol was created by Felix W. de Weldon, sculptor of the USMC War Memorial
commemorating the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. She was also inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Saint-Elzéar, Quebec
Saint-Elzéar, Quebec may refer to:*Saint-Elzéar, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, in Bonaventure Regional County Municipality*Saint-Elzéar, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, in La Nouvelle-Beauce Regional County Municipality...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. At the age of 20, when she entered the convent of the newly-founded Sisters of Charity of Providence (now Sisters of Providence) in Montreal, her carriage-maker father is said to have remarked, "I bring you my daughter, Esther, who wishes to dedicate herself to the religious life. She can read, write, figure accurately, sew, cook, spin and do all manner of housework. She can even do carpentering, handling a hammer and saw as well as her father. She can also plan for others and she succeeds in anything she undertakes. I assure you, Madam, she will make a good superior
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
some day."
In 1856 Mother Joseph was chosen to lead four companions as missionaries to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
Territories of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There she was responsible for the completion of eleven hospitals, seven academies, five schools for Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
children, and two orphanages throughout an area that now encompasses Washington, northern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, and Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. Today the Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of Mother Joseph, which covers the Sisters of Providence of that region, honors her faith and pioneering spirit.
An architect and artist, she was responsible for designing some of the buildings, supervising their construction, and fund raising. Each of her "begging tours" into mining camps lasted several months and raised between $2,000 and $5,000 toward the realization of her goal. A stickler for detail, Mother Joseph often inspected rafters and bounced on planks to insure their support.
Mother Joseph died of a brain tumor in 1902, leaving a legacy of humanitarian service. While it is not true (as has been widely reported) that the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
declared Mother Joseph "The First Architect of the Pacific Northwest," she did plan and build some of the region's first permanent institutions of learning and medical care. In 1980, the state of Washington recognized her many talents and contributions by naming her as one of the state's two representatives to the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection
National Statuary Hall Collection
The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol comprises statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history...
. The bronze statue of Mother Joseph in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol was created by Felix W. de Weldon, sculptor of the USMC War Memorial
USMC War Memorial
The Marine Corps War Memorial is a military memorial statue outside the walls of the Arlington National Cemetery and next to the Netherlands Carillon, in Arlington, Virginia, in the United States. The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps who have died in the...
commemorating the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. She was also inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.