About Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey – Foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
Anne Marie Javouhey, the founder of the religious institute, was born in a remote village in Burgundy, France, on November 10, 1779 and died on the July 15, 1851.
Javouhey grew up at a time when the country was in the grip of the French Revolution. Churches and schools were closed and priests were persecuted. She, along with her parents, helped save the lives of priests who would not swear an oath of allegiance to the State. Not long after she turned 20, Anne Marie chose to become a nun, but for her it was not an easy process. She made several attempts to enter religious life and ended up leaving several institutes, before deciding to begin one of her own.


