Sisters of Charity of St. Louis
Encyclopedia
The Sisters of Charity of St. Louis (Soeurs de la Charité de Saint-Louis) is a Roman Catholic religious congregation. It was founded for the education of poor girls, at Vannes
in Brittany
, in 1803, by Madame Molé, née de Lamoignan, at the suggestion of Antoine-Xavier Maynaud de Pancemont, Bishop of Vannes.
blessed the undertaking, but the final approbation of Rome was not obtained till 1840. The founder was elected superior for life as Mère St. Louis. There were at first no lay sisters, but finding this plan did not answer, Oblates of St. Louis were selected to act in this capacity; but they were not allowed to take vows until they have been ten years in the community.
Its work was the education of poor girls who lived in orphanages attached to their convents, and to support these orphanages the sisters ran fee-paying schools.
The sisters had twenty houses in France, most of which were in Brittany, but all their schools were closed by the French Government; the greater number of the sisters in consequence went to Canada. In 1898 they went to England, and opened a house at Minehead
, in Dorset
.
In Ireland
the congregation's harsh child management regime was listed in the 2009 Ryan Report
, and in November 2009 it subsequently made apology and an offer of €1,000,000 "towards support for former residents who suffered institutional abuse".
Vannes
Vannes is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2000 years ago.-Geography:Vannes is located on the Gulf of Morbihan at the mouth of two rivers, the Marle and the Vincin. It is around 100 km northwest of Nantes and 450 km south west...
in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, in 1803, by Madame Molé, née de Lamoignan, at the suggestion of Antoine-Xavier Maynaud de Pancemont, Bishop of Vannes.
History
In 1805 Pope Pius VIIPope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
blessed the undertaking, but the final approbation of Rome was not obtained till 1840. The founder was elected superior for life as Mère St. Louis. There were at first no lay sisters, but finding this plan did not answer, Oblates of St. Louis were selected to act in this capacity; but they were not allowed to take vows until they have been ten years in the community.
Its work was the education of poor girls who lived in orphanages attached to their convents, and to support these orphanages the sisters ran fee-paying schools.
The sisters had twenty houses in France, most of which were in Brittany, but all their schools were closed by the French Government; the greater number of the sisters in consequence went to Canada. In 1898 they went to England, and opened a house at Minehead
Minehead
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the border with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National Park...
, in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.
In Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
the congregation's harsh child management regime was listed in the 2009 Ryan Report
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
, and in November 2009 it subsequently made apology and an offer of €1,000,000 "towards support for former residents who suffered institutional abuse".