The Bishop of Annecy responded
positively and asked for Sisters from Pigenerol.
They would be housed in the top
floor of his house and run a school there. On the 7th of May
1833 four Sisters made the long journey to Annecy. One of these Sr
Fortunet Meynet, had begun her religious life as a postulant in Chambery!
The four Sisters : Sr Fortunet Meynet, Sr Polyxene Perron, Sr Josephine
Rey, Sr Martha Gougain.
The 20th of May saw
the opening of the school in the Bishops house. Despite great
difficulties, the Bishop, with the help of Madame de la Rochejacqelin,
acquired part of the property known as the Little Visitation. This was the
2nd monastery of the Visitation and the Galerie was the little
chapel where St Francis de Sales and St Jane de Chantal began the
Visitation Order.
Mother St John was consulted by
the Bishop about the four communities joining with the new community in
Annecy. In August they met for their retreat. They became the Congregation
of the Srs of St Joseph of Annecy. A novitiate was authorised and royal
approval was given in Oct. 1833.
One cannot but recall St Francis
de Sales first vision, and in a way see its fulfilment, in the new
foundation of the SSJA.
The acquiring of La Galerie
recalls the close links which bind the work of Fr Medaille, Mgr. de Maupas
and St Francis de Sales.
