FIRST - Congregation of Religious Women of Color - Susquehanna PA
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 41° 56.784 W 075° 35.632
18T E 450775 N 4643995
Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin was a charter member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first congregation of religious women of color in the world.
Waymark Code: WM174AJ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/07/2022
Views: 1
TEXT ON THE HISTORICAL MARKER
Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin (1810-1892)
The first American-born African American Catholic nun in the nation and charter member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first congregation of religious women of color in the world. In 1845 she helped found the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Michigan. At the request of Bishop John Neumann of Philadelphia, she established an IHM community in Susquehanna County and Laurel Hill Academy, in operation here until 1923.
Erected 2009 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
From Wikipedia
With the approval of James Whitfield, Archbishop of Baltimore, a novitiate was begun. A little over a year later, on 2 July 1829, the first four sisters, Miss Elisabeth Lange from Santiago, Cuba, Miss Mary Rosine Boegues of Saint Domingue, Miss Mary Frances Balas of Saint Domingue, Miss Mary Theresa Duchemin of Baltimore made their vows.
Sister Mary Lange was chosen superior, and Rev. Father Joubert was appointed director. Pope Gregory XVI approved the institute on 2 October 1831 under the title of Oblate Sisters of Providence.
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