During the pastorate of Father J. Reade, a consciousness of the need for Catholic education for the children of the parish led to the establishment of a school conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia, Kansas. Father Reade’s courage and vision were shown in the purchase of the Colonel Anderson property in June, 1903, for parochial purposes. This building known as the Sacred Heart Academy was opened in September, 1908, with the following Sisters in charge: Sister Louise Cuff, Ph.D. as Directress, Sister Aquinas Fenton, Sister Geraldine Budreau, Sister Cornelius Perrault, Sister Rita Rivard, and Sister Mildred Huber.

The history of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph dates back to the middle of the seventeenth century, when the congregation was founded in LePuy, France.  In 1836, several Sisters of St. Joseph came to America and settled in the area of St. Louis, and later New York. From Rochester, they traveled westward to Concordia, Kansas, in the year 1884.  In 1983-1984, the Sisters of St. Joseph celebrated the centenary of their congregation.

The material on this page is taken directly from “The Roots of Seven Dolors Grade School,” a booklet consisting of dates, informative history, reminisces of a former academy boarder, alumni and teachers prepared by the students of Grade Eight A and their teacher, Sister Susan Kongs CSJ written in 1982-1983.

           April 26, 2005
Maintained by kthomas@mcscardinals.org