The First Christian Brothers in America: Sainte Genevieve Academy (1819 - 1822)

This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the first mission of the Christian Brothers to the new world.  In 1819, three young Brothers from France were sent to teach in Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. They began their apostolate in a beautiful limestone Federalist-style building located on the highest hill overlooking the town.  This exhibition presents the history of the Christian Brothers mission, the original academy building, which still exists, and the historic town of Sainte Genevieve using materials from the collections of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest and visits to Sainte Genevieve, Missouri.