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August 2017

      

The Motherhouse of a congregation of Catholic consecrated women Religious is the house where the general superior or leader of the congregation resides. In the past the leader was called Mother General, or Reverend Mother, hence the name Motherhouse. The Motherhouse is also usually the first house established by a congregation and also headquarters the offices of the congregation.
       For the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine, Florida, the Motherhouse has been at 241 St. George Street in the Old Town section of the city since it was finished in 1876, with construction beginning in 1874.
      When tourists walk by the Motherhouse they often think it is a museum and ask if there are tours. They are not aware of the fact that many sisters live inside and it is their home, and, no,  there are no tours at this time. Some tourists think it is a church since there is a cross on the top of the third story.
Currently 18 sisters live in the Motherhouse, one of whom is Sister Jane Stoecker, the General Superior. The Motherhouse is a three-story building that was modeled after the Motherhouse of the first French sisters who came from Le Puy, France.



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