Our History

The story of our foundation starts several years before the birth of our founder. Our story starts with the Pact of Turkenstein.

The Pact of Turkenstein. Turkenstein is a small village in the Voges Hills near Strasbourg. On the feast of the Sacred Heart, 23rd June, 1797, a pact was made between three friends - Abbe Colmar, Marie Therese Breck and Louise Humann. This pact was a commitment to devote their lives to the Christian education of young people and to care for the sick.

The picture shows a group of sisters from the province visiting the place of the Pact of Turkenstien in 2008

 

Many years late, in the spirit of the Pact of Turkenstein, Louise Humann, then living in Strasbourg, Opened her home to a group of Philosophy Students. Among these were Louis Bautain, who went on the found the Sisters of St Louis, and Theodore Ratisbonne, our founder.

Louise Humann became the 'Spiritual Mother' of the group and was particularly influential in the faith journey of Theodore whom she baptised on Holy Saturday, 14th April, 1828. Luise died on September 19th 1836

 

Louise Humann