Academy of the Sacred Heart
Grand Coteau, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Marker Inscription
Academy of the Sacred Heart Second oldest institution of learning in Louisiana, opened in 1821 by Mother Audé and Sister Layton, Religious of the Sacred Heart. The Society was brought to America in 1818 by Blessed Philippine Duchesne.
The Story
Opened in 1821 in the small Louisiana town of Grand Coteau, the Academy of the Sacred Heart became one of the state's earliest schools, founded by Mother Audé and Sister Layton of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. The order had been brought to America in 1818 by Philippine Duchesne, a French nun later canonized as a saint. For two centuries the academy has educated young women on the same grounds.
Why it matters
As one of the oldest continuously operating schools in Louisiana, it reflects the pioneering role of Catholic women religious in bringing formal education to the American frontier.
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Related people
- · Mother Audé
- · Sister Layton
- · Philippine Duchesne
Themes & tags
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