User talk:Cmetz500

History of the University of Saint Mary (Leavenworth, KS)
A general history of the college from its founding to the present. Cmetz500 (talk) 16:44, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

1858
Prior to the First Settlement

Before Leavenworth, there was Nashville, Tennessee. What sparked the great move of the Sisters of Charity from their original location in Tennessee was the Metropolitan Council Meeting in 1858.[1 ] This was a meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri, where Mother Xavier first proposed the idea to the Catholic Council for the Sisters of Charity to move from Tennessee to Kansas.

The initial reason behind choosing Kansas as the relocation was to have “space for their labor of charity, and eventually, they hoped to be employed in evangelizing the Indians.”[2 ] This sheds light on the initial goal of the Sisters of Charity, which was to expand to Kansas in hopes of serving a larger and newer demographic.

Mother Xavier met the Revered Archbishop at the Metropolitan Council Meeting, who was skeptical of Xavier’s goals. But, slyly enough, Mother Xavier met Revered Archbishop Miege, the Archbishop of Leavenworth, Kansas. Revered Miege was searching for a charity to home in Leavenworth and was delighted to welcome the Sisters of Charity.

Early Settlement of the Sisters of Charity in Leavenworth

On the first of November 1858, the Sisters of Charity officially departed from their home on a journey to establish a new one. The Sisters needed to be prepared and aware of the troubles they would face heading into Kansas.

The first Sisters to travel to Kansas were Sister Mary Vincent Kearney, Sister Mary Joshep Taylor, Sister Aloysia O’Brian, Sister Regina McGrain, Sister Placida Cassidy, Annie Varney, Ellen McCormick, and Rosa V. Kelly. Five Sisters, one Novice, two Postulants, and one orphan girl.[3 ]

This group arrived in Leavenworth on the eleventh of November in 1858 after a treacherous winter-defined journey.[4 ] This became a historic day. This day is celebrated as Founders Day at the University of Saint Mary in the modern day. This day holds much significance to the University; if Mother Xavier had not brought those women over to Kansas, the University would not exist.

The second group of the Sisters of Leavenworth followed suit on the first of December in 1858. This included Sister Julia Voorvoart, Sister Vincentia Kelly, Sister Gertrude Ryan, Sister Ann Davis, Sister Rosalia Chagnon, Kitty Moran, Mary Johnson, and Mary Killelay.[5 ]

In Nashville, the Sisters ran an orphanage, and in anticipation of their departure, they homed as many children as possible. The remaining orphans had two choices: to travel with the Sisters or go into the world on their own. Rosa V. Kelly, Kitty Moran, Mary Johnson, and Mary Killelav stuck by the sister's side. This emphasizes the Sisters of Charity’s importance and willingness to continue providing for others and their mission.

Since the Sisters of Charity had very little money to their name, there needed to be a budget for housing. The kind-hearted Revered Miege lent his home to the Sisters for the use of the Charity. Then, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell, wealthy residents of Leavenworth, offered their newly built home to house the Sisters without ever accompanying it first. The Farrells were said to be “noble friends” and “their best benefactors.”[6 ]

After getting settled, the Sisters of Charity got straight to work with their purpose to serve and develop their new community in Leavenworth. Soon, they began living and “teaching in a two small frame buildings” given to them by Bishop Miege.[7 ] The girls were taught in one of the small buildings on Kickapoo Street, and the boys were located on Kiowa, north of the Bishop’s residence. Cmetz500 (talk) 17:06, 6 December 2023 (UTC)