The Opelousas courier., 1897-04-10
81. Nfichael,s Jubilee.
AT CONVENT OF THE sACRED HEART ST. JAMES
PARISH, LOUISIANA.
(From the Mobile Daily Register, Sunday, Feb
ruary 7. 1877

(From the Mobile Daily Register, Sunday, Feb
ruary Z, 1877
On the banks Of the Mississippi about sixty
ntiies northwest of New Orleans, stands Il large
brick structure. a typical Southern building,
long, white aud comparatively low, with wide.
sunny galleries. supported by massive pillars.
Surrounded by groves of lnoss-bearded trees,
shady avenues OF giant oaks and gardens of
lovely roses now blooming in this genial cline
it makes a picture beautiful from every point
OF view.
tuition, is the Convent st. James, conducted by
the ladies' Of the Sacred Heat, and this wear
marks an important epoch i'll its annals. the
celebration Of the tiYtieth anniversary of it's
foundation. Fifty years means history; and if
the venerable old walls could speak they might
tell many an unpublished story Of early Louisi-
sease devasted the south, proving once more
what undaunted heroism, faith can inspire in
the souls of Apostolic women, who Drawing
every danger, faced death not only with courage,
but with joy, and counted all sufferings gain for
the cause OF Christ.
Asearly as 1926. Mother Eugene Aude, worthy
daughter of the Venerable Sophie Barat, came
with o little colony OF nuns and took possession
of their fist house in the Parish of st. James.
God blessed their humble beginnings, and soon
children came in numbers to receive that
thorough Intellectual and moral training Pc
culiar to the education of the Sacred Heart.
Thus the society commenced it's great and noble
work in louisiana, long before it gained o foot
hold i'll the North or East. Founded before
Manlg3ttanville or Eden Hall, older than aSF
hous9gns..he Order on Mexican or canadian soil.
How many generations will joyfully salute st.
il was not until the eighth of January, 184s,
u4der the supervision OF Madame Galway, that
the religious with two hundred pupils entered
1Me nGM the Gen winrs a une o s1Tae baisdio oe &C y ~ %hia at
are constructed of the bricks of the older house,
which sheltered the foundresses OF the order in
the United States, the sanity Mother Duchesne
and her niece, Rev. Mother Jouve. It was the
scene OF the novitiate and early religious life OF
Madame Aloysia Hardy, Mother Barat's first
American daughter, who labored so successfully
In the lnterests.Of her order: first in her native
land, afterwards in France; also OF the Jealous
apostolate of Rev. Mothers Cults and Shannon,
while the precious remains of the Russian prin-
cess Galitzin, a convert to Catholicity and OF
Mothers Pratz and Barbarin, the yellow fever
h%eroines, peacefully rest in the vault of the
little cemetery.
given by their predecessors, the Ladies Of the
Sacred Heart continue their mission and extend
their ~salutary influence far and wide. Their
works are multiplied, for it is their aim not only
to educate tho higher class, but to instruct the
poor and teach them how to be useful and happy
In their humble condition.
Besides the boarding school, they conduct two
other schools, one for the white children of tile
parish, boys and girls. the other; entirely dis
tiuct, having separate building, play grounds,
ETC., for col0red children.
are interested in st. MichBrs, and their name is
legion. Present pupils yet within the shelter of
their convent home will rejoice, former pupils
will turn lovingly to their alma mater to offer
their tribute of affection and gratitude.
To commemorate jubilee the year q handsome
memorial gothic altar of carved oak has been
erected in the sanctuary of the convent chapel.
The side affairs will be completed by the pres
emit and former pupils of st. MichBl's.
The committee charged with the jubilee cele-
brati0n will be glad to reach as many OF the old
pupils as possible, and, beg that their names be
sent to convent address before the month of
May. Invitations announcing dates will be is
sued in due time.
IAN ex-Pupil of st. Michmps.o