Mother Joseph of the
Sacred Heart

Esther Pariseau

Who are you ?

In bringing his daughter, age 20, to the Sisters of Providence in December 1843, Joseph Pariseau of St. Martin de Laval, Quebec, said, "My daughter, Esther, wishes to dedicate herself to the religious life…if you will accept her, you will find her able to give you valuable assistance. She has had what education her mother and I could give her at home and at school. She can read and write and figure accurately. She can cook and sew and spin and do all manner of housework. She has learned carpentry from me and can handle tools as well as I can. Moreover she can plan and supervise the work of others, and I assure you Madame, she will some day make a very good superior."

As needs appeared and different works were begun, the ministries spread north into western Canada, east into Montana and south to California. In the 1860's, in order to procure money for the burgeoning works, she went on "begging tours" to the mines of Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Canada, accompanied by a younger sister with more physical and social charm.

As a strong-willed woman, Mother Joseph longed for the patience and gentleness of those good-natured Sisters who followed her bidding and "put up with" her single-mindedness. At the time of her death, Mother Joseph's dying words were, "Sisters, whatever concerns the poor is always our affair." After her death in January, 1902, Mother Mary Antoinette said of her, "She had the characteristics of genius: incessant works, immense sacrifices, great undertakings, and she never counted the cost to self. She exercised an extraordinary influence on the Church in the West."

Centennial of the Death of Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart, 1902-2002

As the nineteenth century drew to a close, Mother Joseph's legendary strength finally began to fail. Death came on January 19, 1902, at Providence Academy, Vancouver, Washington, after a short but painful struggle with cancer.

In a steady correspondence with her friends and spiritual advisors, Mother Joseph spoke openly of her pain and growing weakness, and of her preparations for death. On the first morning of the year 1902, Mother Joseph said, "My dear children, I see the first day of the year, but I will not see the last; I am in the arms of God...."As news of her illness spread, Mother Joseph received consoling letters and sympathetic visitors from near and far. Sister Mary Olive recalled her touching encounter with Mother Joseph: She took my hand and said to me, "My little Olive, it is finished…." And I to her responded, "You are content to die, no?" "Yes, my sister, yes, to see the face of my Jesus, that of my Mother Immaculate, and that of my good father, St. Joseph."

The chronicles describe the scene and record Mother Joseph's last testament to her sisters:
"My sisters, I ask pardon for the grief I may have caused you. I forgive you also with all my heart for the sorrow you could have caused me involuntarily. I recommend myself to your prayers. I am happy to die in the bosom of the Community. I love my Community and I have always loved it…I have always been happy to spend myself for the works of the Institute and this to the best of my ability. Permit me to recommend to you the care of the poor both in our institutions and outside them; have no fear to assist the poor and to receive them--you will not have any regrets… My Sisters, whatever concerns the poor is always our affair."

During a visit with sisters from St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, the group sang for Mother Joseph, among which were two French songs she loved, "Beau Ciel" [Beautiful Heaven] and Laisse-moi quitter cette terre" ["Let me leave this earth"] The Holy Communion she received was to be her last. She died quietly on Sunday, January 19th, just after the celebration of Benediction.

Mother Benedict Joseph, Provincial Superior, said of Mother Joseph's death: She rendered her soul to God at 3:50 p.m. on the Sunday, Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. No doubt, her Jesus granted to her the great grace to die on His feast, as a reward for her burning zeal to make Him known and to spread His reign in these far away regions.

Courtesy of Mother Joseph Province Archives
For more information see: www.providence.org/archives

Because of her contribution in designing and building institutions, Mother Joseph is considered by many to be one of the first architects in the northwest, and also is recognized as an early artisan who used native northwest woods. The state of Washington gave her national prominence in 1980 when her statue was placed in Statuary Hall in Washington D.C., as an historic leader of Washington state. She is the fifth woman and the first Catholic Sister represented in the United States official gallery of "first citizens."

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