Clark County History: Mother Joseph

Her nimble peasant fingers may do something, prepare dinner, sew, work wooden and write lengthy letters. Born within the Canadian village of Saint-Elzéar, her mother and father Joseph and Francoise Pariseau referred to as her Esther. As a petite youngster, she typically labored subsequent to her father in his carriage. Her mom taught her to embroider, learn, and write. Immediately Esther Pariseau is best often called Mom Joseph (1823-1902).

Her father traveled to Montreal in 1843 and gave Esther to the Daughters of Charity, servants of the poor within the Diocese of Nisqually. (The identify was later abbreviated to Sisters of Windfall.) Her father praised Esther’s abilities and added that someday she would make a wonderful supervisor. The 20-year-old accepted the medal and renamed her Sister Joseph. For the following a number of years she cared for the poor and sick whereas working the group’s kitchen, bakery, backyard, and lumber store.

Augustin-Magloire Blanchet, the Bishop of Nisqually, wanted assist in the Oregon Territory and requested for a number of sisters in 1852. Sister Joseph volunteered, however was too priceless to ship. She acquired her probability 4 years later when Bishop Blanchet made a second cry for assist. Sister Joseph was answerable for the 4 nuns who traveled from Canada throughout the Isthmus of Panama to the St. James Mission close to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory.

When the nuns disembarked from the Brother Jonathan ship in Vancouver, they walked a few mile to Bishop’s Sq. solely to seek out three tough 10-square-meter rooms and a passageway that led to the varsity, kitchen, and church. The nuns slept within the unfurnished attic of the constructing. Three weeks later they opened Windfall Academy, the Northwest’s first parish faculty, with seven little women.

Shortly afterwards, a penniless 85-year-old man appeared, who was additionally taken in by Mom Joseph. Once more Mom Joseph took care of the poor and sick. Early data present that the nuns carried out 34 evening vigils within the sick homes. They taught, gardened, cooked, and sorted the bishop’s home.

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