First Six Women

Used with permission from Julie Lonneman

In Le Puy, there was an ancient institution for orphan girls and young widows in need of new management. Around 1646, Bishop de Maupas arranged for Françoise Eyraud to take charge. She was soon joined by five others who formed the nucleus of the new community. In 1650, they made simple vows and were given canonical status by the bishop. In the following year, they were legally constituted by an Act of Association. This was how the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph was born. The Sisters would soon spread throughout the south-central region of France.

They quietly ministered to people who were sick and poor, visiting these people in their own homes with healing remedies for body and soul. They took in street children, orphans and poor girls for whom prostitution seemed the only way to survive. The Sisters taught them to do embroidery and make lace and ribbons to support themselves. They also visited women prisoners, bringing food and clothing as well as spiritual solace. The Sisters would also teach school-age girls to read and write when no one else was doing so.

Françoise Eyraud (1611–1683) was born in Varennes into an old and illustrious family that had connections with the charitable works of the diocese. She was placed in charge of the hospice as early as 1646 and was its superior at the time of her death.

Clauda Chastel was widowed in 1647 when her husband was killed while serving in the king’s military forces. She was left well off with a fair amount of property and brought with her a dowry of 800 pounds. She must have received an education as she was the only one of the first six Sisters who could read and write.

Marguerite Burdier (1626–1700) was born in Saint-Julien-en-Forez into an influential upper class family. In 1668, she was sent to establish a community in Vienne. She was known for her strong personality and was very influential in setting up all the important community houses in Southern France.

Anna Chaleyer (1604–1694) came from Saint Giny-Malifaux, diocese of Lyon. She died at the age of 90 and was buried in the Chapel of Saint Joseph in Le Puy. She was likely of a modest social class and was 46 or 47 when she signed the act of association in 1651.

Anna Brun was a young girl (probably an orphan) just 15 years of age when she signed the Act of Association. She succeeded Françoise Eyraud as superior of the Montferrand hospice in 1683. Her burial is recorded as taking place on Jan. 25, 1685, when she was about 50-years-old.

Anna Vey came from Le Puy. Her father’s name, Jacques, is noted on the Act of Association with the promise of a dowry of 500 pounds. We assume she was from a well-to-do family and was very young at the time, but nothing further is known about her.


Many thanks to the  Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, Canada. for their contributions to this history of the Congregation.
 

      The Kitchen of our founding sisters
 

    Cobblestone street near the Kitchen