The wonderful, storied history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, our founding sponsors, provides an introduction into the naming of our annual recognition society levels. That heritage includes:
St. Teresa of Avila was considered a major figure in Catholic Reformation in the 1500’s. Known as a prominent Spanish mystic and writer, St. Teresa is widely accredited for her works as a scholar and her contributions to theology and education.
At the suggestion of Bishop Joseph Rosati, the first sisters of Saint Joseph came to America from Lyons, France in 1836 to open a school for the deaf in St. Louis. They established a convent in Carondelet, a village on the outskirts of St. Louis, and opened up the school in 1837.
In 1910, Mother Evelyn O’Neill purchased a 20-acre tract of land called Windmoor in Kansas City’s exclusive Country Club district. St. Teresa’s Academy began classes at the new location at 5600 Main Street and six years later, a junior college (St. Teresa College) was started at the site. That fledgling junior college has grown into what is now Avila University.
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