The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1905-07-01
GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATED.
By Sisters of ST. Joseph, Bay St.
Louis-Interesting Address by
Miss Aida Harvey.

The history of the success which ha
attended the efforts of the sisters of ST
Joseph, of Bay ST. Louis, who, on Mon
day celebrated the golden jubilee of tht
foundation of Saint Joseph's Academy
with befitting cerem onies, IS filled will
examples of noble eself sacrifice and per
sistent effort, and to this the spaciou;
and magnificent group of building form
ing St. Joseph's convent and academy
stands as a monument.
| On the occasion Of the musical anC
/ literary entertainment held on Monday
evening in celebration of the jubilee, Miss
Aida Harvey read an address of much
interest, giving an account of the IN
ception and progress of the sisters ir
this city. After tracing the foundation
of the order in France, Miss Harvey told
of the sisters coming to Bay st. Louis
in the following interesting manner:
"De5iring to have the aid of the Sis
ters of st. Joseph in establishing a con-
vent at Bay ST. Louis, Rev. Father
Stanislaus Buteaux appealed to the Or
der in France, and in answer to the call
three Sisters, Mother Eulalia, Sister
Anatole and Sister Gonzaga volun-
teered for the Bay ST Louis mission.
On November 80, 1854, they bade adieu
to home and country and embarked for
New Orleans on sailing vessel, travel
ing many weeks before they finally
reached their destination.
"After consulting with Archbishop
Blanc, they were conducted to the Ur-
suline Convent, where they rested a
few days before embarking on a sailing
vessel for Bay ST, Louis, where they
landed January 5, 1855.
''The first undertaking was a day
school opened at Waveland, four miles
distant from the Bay, and during the
first years a sewing class was organized
at Bay St Louis. Some of the elder
ladies of Bay ST, Louis remember we'll
the pleasant hours spent with the
French nuns in the one small room
which served the triple purpose of class
room, sewing room and dining room.
"As time rolled on land was pur-
chased, and the building now known as
the day school was erected few years
later. Mother Esperance, the successor
of Mother Eulalia, planned and had
built the present boarding school; nu-
merous pupils were enrolled and a
bright future seemed to dawn on the
young institute, when the civil war be-
gan and all progress was checked for a
time. After the war the Sisters COM
menced again, and during the past
forty years have continued to improve
and embellish their property, even up
to the present time, when Mother Au-
gustin is planning numerous additions
to add comforts which will be appre-
ciated by the students and faculty
alike"
The foregoing paragraphs outline in
brief the work of the Sisters. With the
various superiors and their work the
following paragraphs deal:
The first building of the academy re-
presents some of the efforts bestowed on
the academy by the first superior, Moth
er Eulalia. The second superior, Moth
er Esperance, was known as the "build-
ing mother" During her administra
ton several buildings were added to the
academy. She died in Bourg, France,
two years ago.
Mother Thomaide was the next supe-
rior to assume control of the Academy.
1t was her privilege to be present at the
Academy for the celebration of the ju-
bilee. She was resting at the convent
of the Sisters in New Orleans, and glad
" took the opportunity OF visiting here.
Mother Alphee added an artesian well to
the list of improvements.
Mother Joanice was the fifth superior;
she died in Baton Rouge ten years ago.
During her term of Office she repaired
all the buildings, and seeing the neces-
sity of additional space she erected the
center building, connecting the board
ing and day schools
Mother Desiree only remained at the
head of the institution short time, re-
turning to France, Mother Euphrasia
embellished the interiors of all the build
ings,
The present incumbent, Mother Au-
gustin, has controlled the destlnleS OF
the Academy three years. During that
time a sewerage system has been install
ed, an acetylene gas plant was construct
ed, and the convent hall was greatly en-
larged During the vacation natato-
rum is to be erected, and an iron fence
will replace the wooden inclosure which
has seen service for many years.
The season just closed has been one Of
the most prosperous in the convent's
history. There were over a hundred day
scholars and forty boarders, besides a
large number of children who were edu
Gated free of charge.
The faculty consists of twenty Sisters,
and the curriculum embraces primary
and higher English, Latin and French,
taught by three exiled Sisters from
Faance, music and art. The grounds
cover sixty acres, much of which is un-
der cultivation and furnishes all the
vegetables needed for the faculty and
students.
GA sad incident in connection with
the celebration was the death few
weeks ago of Sister Mary, one of the
first Sisters to be stationed at the con-
vent. She was eightyfour years old,
and up to the time Of. her death she
took an interest in the preparations fol
the jubilee. Sister Agnes, another old
attache of the institution, was present
at the exercises.
When the Southern Pacific steamer
Proteus landed at New Orleans Tues
1ox, nol;oa off,oarc pfanad rpdor n rroct