Mother Joseph Pariseau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart S.P.
Mother Joseph, S.P. (NSHC statue)
Religious, Missionary
Born	Esther Pariseau April 16, 1823 Saint-Elzéar, Quebec, Canada
Died	January 19, 1902(1902-01-19) (aged 78) Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
Resting place	St. James Acres Vancouver, Washington, U.S.

Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart (born Esther Pariseau, April 16, 1823 – January 19, 1902) was a Canadian nun. She led a group of Sisters of Providence to the Pacific Northwest of the United States. There, she helped create many schools and hospitals. These places served the American settlers in that new and distant part of the country.

She was also the first female architect in British Columbia. The State of Washington honored her for her work. She is one of two people who represent Washington in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C..

Early Life and Calling

Esther Pariseau was born in Saint-Elzéar, Canada. This town was about 3 miles (5 km) from Saint-Martin, Laval, Quebec.

In 1843, at age 20, she joined the Sisters of Charity of Providence. This group is now known as the Sisters of Providence. They were based in Montreal.

Her father, a carriagemaker, went with her to the convent. He told the Mother Superior that Esther could read, write, and do math. He also said she was good at sewing, cooking, and housework. He even mentioned she could use a hammer and saw like him. He believed she would be a great leader one day. Esther took the name Sister Joseph to honor her father.

Mission to the Pacific Northwest

In 1856, Augustin-Magloire Blanchet was the bishop of the new Diocese of Nesqually. This area is now the Archdiocese of Seattle. He asked the Sisters of Providence in Montreal for help. He needed them to serve his diocese in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Mother Joseph was chosen to lead four other nuns on this mission. They traveled with the bishop by train from Montreal. Their journey took over a month. They arrived on December 8, 1856.

When they got there, no housing was ready for them. They had to sleep in the attic of the bishop's small home for their first few days.

Establishing Providence of the Holy Angels

Within a few months, the Sisters settled in Vancouver, Washington. They used a small cabin as their convent and first school. This school opened on April 14, 1857. They welcomed orphans and an elderly homeless man into their care.

Bishop Blanchet gave them two acres of land. It was part of the St. James Mission Claim. On this land, they built several small buildings. The Sisters named their new home Providence of the Holy Angels.

Over the next few years, this site grew. It included the convent, a training area for new nuns, and an infirmary. It also had an orphanage for boys and girls. There was a boarding and day school, and rooms for the elderly and those with mental illness. The first St. Joseph Hospital was also there. The Sisters also cared for the priests of St. James Cathedral. They visited the poor and sick in their homes too.

Building Providence Academy

The diocese had a long argument over who owned the St. James Mission Claim. So, this could not be the Sisters' permanent home. Mother Joseph bought land away from the disputed area. She protected the Sisters' interests by forming a corporation. It was called "Sisters of Charity of the House of Providence in the Territory of Washington." This happened on January 28, 1859. It is still one of Washington State's oldest corporations. It is also the parent company for Providence Health & Services.

In the early 1870s, Mother Joseph planned a permanent home for Providence of the Holy Angels. It was on the land she had bought earlier in Vancouver. She designed and oversaw the building of Providence Academy. It was located between Tenth and Twelfth, "C" and Reserve Streets. The local Hidden Brick Company provided the bricks for the four-story building.

The sisters, orphans, and boarders moved into the Academy on September 7, 1874. The inside was not even finished yet. Mother Joseph supervised building a large addition in 1891. But the outside of the building looks much like it did when it was first built. Mother Joseph was very careful about details. She often checked foundations and rafters. She would even bounce on planks to make sure they were strong.

Fundraising and Construction

As an architect and artist, Mother Joseph designed buildings. She also supervised their construction. She went on many fundraising trips. She rode horses through mountains and wilderness. Each of her "begging tours" to mining camps lasted several months. She raised between $2,000 and $5,000 for her goals.

Here are some buildings Mother Joseph helped build:

• 1856: Providence Academy, Vancouver, Washington.
• 1858: St. Joseph Hospital, Vancouver.
• 1863: Providence St. Joseph (school), Steilacoom, Washington.
• 1864: St. Vincent Academy, Walla Walla, Washington.

Her tours were sometimes dangerous. In 1866, she almost lost all her money from a trip. Her stagecoach was stopped by armed robbers. She told the robber, "There is nothing in there that you would want." She convinced them to leave her money.

Her tours took her far from Vancouver. She went into Idaho and Montana. These areas had many mines and lots of money. Later, her fellow nuns from Ohio would start Indian Mission Schools in Montana. Mother Joseph supported many institutions. Her leaders in Montreal did not have many resources to help them. This shows how determined and dedicated she was to helping others.

Later Life and Death

Mother Joseph died from a brain tumor on January 19, 1902. She passed away at Providence Academy in Vancouver, Washington. She is buried in the nearby Mother Joseph Cemetery.

She left behind a history of helping people. While it's often said she was "The First Architect of the Pacific Northwest," this is not true. However, she did plan and build some of the first permanent schools and hospitals in the region.

Honoring Mother Joseph

In 1980, the State of Washington recognized her many talents. They chose her as one of the state's two representatives. Her statue is in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection.

A bronze statue of Mother Joseph was made by Felix W. de Weldon. It was given to the Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. There was some debate about the statue. Many thought it should show her with a hammer and nails. Instead, it shows her with praying hands. The statue shows her desire to serve those in need.

Washington State also celebrates her birthday as an official state holiday. Governor Gary Locke signed this into law on April 16, 1999.

She was also added to the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Her Lasting Impact

Mother Joseph helped complete eleven hospitals and seven academies. She also built five schools for Native American children. She created two orphanages. These were spread across areas that are now Washington, northern Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

Today, the Province of Mother Joseph honors her faith and pioneering spirit. This province covers the Sisters of Providence in that region.

Providence Academy operated until 1966. The Sisters decided to close the Academy and sell the property. This was because fewer students and teaching Sisters were available. Also, the school needed repairs.

The building was empty for several years. In 1969, Robert Hidden bought it. He was the grandson of Lowell Hidden, who founded the Hidden Brick Company. This company had supplied the bricks for the Academy. Today, the building has offices, shops, a restaurant, and a Montessori school. It also has a wedding chapel. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2015, the Hidden Family sold the property to the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust. The Trust plans to keep its current uses while restoring the site. In 2018, the Historic Trust announced plans for a new building next to the historic one. This plan has caused some discussion.

Images for kids

• 

  Providence Hospital in Seattle (built 1882–1883).

See also

In Spanish: Madre Joseph Pariseau para niños