Part of a Series on Vincentian Heritage Places

Saint Joseph’s Valley, Emmitsburg, Maryland

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In 1809, Elizabeth moved to Saint Joseph’s Valley, where she founded the first community for religious women in the United States—the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. Their first residence was a simple stone house, now a place of pilgrimage.

Stone House, today

[At first,] the house was far from offering all the comforts Elizabeth Ann had so optimistically described in a letter to her dearest friend, Julia Scott. Sixteen people occupied four rooms, two upstairs and two down, with one of the smaller lower rooms used as a temporary chapel. Over time, the Stone House was expanded to allow more women to live in the home. (Source: setonshrine.org)

About the Move to Emmitsburg

In 1809, the widow Seton accepted the Sulpicians’ invitation and moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where they had a mission. A year later, she established the Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School, a school dedicated to Catholic girls’ education. This effort was supported financially by Samuel Sutherland Cooper, a wealthy convert and seminarian at the newly established Mount Saint Mary’s University, begun by John Dubois, S.S., and the Sulpicians. On July 31, 1809, Seton established a religious community in Emmitsburg dedicated to the care of children of the poor. This was the first congregation of religious sisters founded in the United States, and its school was the first free Catholic school in America. This modest beginning marked the start of the Catholic parochial school system in the United States.^[14] Seton’s congregation was initially called the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s. From that point on, she became known as “Mother Seton.” In 1811, the sisters adopted the rules of the Daughters of Charity, co-founded in France by Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. (Source: Wikipedia)

More information: Wikipedia – Saint Joseph College and Mother Seton Shrine

The White House, known today as the Historic St. Joseph’s House, served as a house of the community of Sisters who lived there. For more information: https://setonshrine.org/white-house/

St. Joseph’s Academy, Emmitsburg

All Vincentian Places in this Series

Red = Vincent de Paul, Blue = Frederic Ozanam, Teal = Elizabeth Seton, Yellow = Louise de Marillac

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