Name/Title
St. Mary's Parochial SchoolEntry/Object ID
JO.0015Description
St. Mary's Parochial School located at 309 North Eastern Avenue in Joliet, Illinois. Under the guidance of the Reverend Maurice F. Burke, Pastor of St. Mary's Parish (later St. Mary's Carmelite), the school was opened in September of 1887. Sisters from the IBVM taught here until 1919, and in later years, the building was known as the Bishop Romeo Blanchette Learning Center and the Spanish Community Center United Way.
In 1880, the Canadian Mission of the IBVM sent Sisters to establish a presence in Joliet, Illinois. They maintained an education ministry in the community until departing in 1919.Context
Born in 1585 in North Yorkshire, England, Mary Ward founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1609. Focused on education, the Sisters developed their ministry despite significant political, spiritual and material challenges. In 1880, the Canadian Mission of the IBVM established a presence in Illinois, and the following year, the IBVM North American Branch was created. In 1892, their ministry expanded into Chicago, and by 1896, the Sisters had opened a school in Michigan. Over the following decades, further growth resulted in ministries in California and Arizona, both of which began in 1949. In the 21st Century, the IBVM and its companions are active in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, California and Arizona.Lexicon
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Religion, Religious Organizations, Sisters of Loretto, Photos, Photographs, Pictures, Historic SitesReproductions
Notes
Please contact the IBVM Archives (archives@ibvm.us) for further information or materials requests.