THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. JOAN ANTIDA  

The Foundress of our Community was born Jeanne Antide Thouret on November 27, 1765 in the little village of Sancey, in eastern France near the Swiss border.  In Italy she is called Giovanna Antida, in the USA, Joan Antida, in South America, Juana Antida.  The name is pronounced many ways, but the woman was one – one in her great faith, deep prayer life and unswerving love of the poor.

Jeanne lived through the terror and chaos of the French Revolution as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris until all religious congregations were dissolved for many years.  Jeanne returned to her native area and, after some years, on April 11, 1799 opened a free school for girls, then a pharmacy and a soup kitchen. Her simple response to the needs of her people for education, food, medical care, faith instruction and worship was the birth of our Religious Community.  In addition to the three vows all religious take, we also take a fourth vow of Service to the Poor. There are approximately 3,500 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida in 26 countries.  These include the USA, 4 countries of South America, 7 European countries, 6 African countries and 8 Asian countries.  Some of these countries are: Paraguay, Romania, Cameroon, Sudan, Indonesia, Laos and Pakistan.  

It was Jeanne Antide’s desire “to cross the ocean and go to the ends of the earth if God wanted it”.  In 1901 the first Sisters went to England.  In 1904 they arrived in Lebanon, then Egypt and Syria.  In 1932 five Sisters journeyed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to minister to the Italian immigrants.  They began in the now famous Third Ward at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish and at what was then a small St. Camillus Hospital.

By 1953 the Sisters were serving God’s people in day care centers, elementary schools and nursing homes.  It was decided that it was time to consider the education of teenage women in Milwaukee.  A wonderful location on Milwaukee’s East Side was chosen and St. Joan Antida High School opened to 47 ninth grade girls on September 15, 1954.  

On September 15, 2004, Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Sklba celebrated a beautiful 50^th Anniversary Liturgy for our school community.  We are proud and privileged to have educated nearly 4,000 young women.  During these 50 years, our curriculum and activities have mirrored the many changes in society and in our city.  But one thing remained the same: our passion to nurture women who dare to transform society with faith, educational and professional success. 

We wish to be a gateway for our young women to live and lead in a multicultural world.  Our students have an excellent opportunity to begin understanding this world because St. Joan Antida High School is a very multicultural world of its own.  It has been so since the first girls walked through the doors 50 years ago.  The faces of today’s students represent many cultures: Hispanic, African American, European, Asian, Native American and Middle Eastern.  

More than 2,500 of our graduates still live and work in Southeastern Wisconsin.  They are fine, competent women “leading and serving” in our city and beyond.
Click here to enter the Sisters of Charity Web site.

                                      
     Sisters of Charity show their support at SJA events...