She is recognized in our state’s capitol building as one of our most important pioneers and today is her birthday…she was born April 16, 1823.

 Mother Joseph arrived in the Pacific Northwest on December 8, 1856, by boat, along with four other sisters from Montreal. Only two of the five spoke English – the other women spoke only French. They came at the request of the Catholic bishop. Once at Fort Vancouver the women cared for the sick, the aged and the poor; they worked to educate the young, especially Native Americans, and house the orphaned. They begged for funds to support their work. They traveled into hostile territory. Their courage, faith and vision inspire us still.

 Today, Mother Joseph’s legacy lives on…Providence Health and Services continues to care for those who present themselves for healthcare, for housing, for education. Providence serves the poor and vulnerable, the same mission that Mother Joseph had…just with more staff and much more sophisticated means.

Test your knowledge about Mother Joseph, take the quiz...

(Photo: The first Sisters of Providence in the West were, seated from left, Praxedes of Providence; Mother Joseph; Mary of the Precious Blood. Standing from left, Vincent de Paul; Blandine of the Holy Angels.)

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