Seton Hill in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Historic Chapel of St. Mary's Seminary & University (dedicated 1808)

The First Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States (established 1791)

— Birthplace of the Oblate Sisters of Providence (established 1829) —

Historic Chapel of St. Mary's Seminary & University (dedicated 1808) Marker image. Click for full size.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 8, 2023

1. Historic Chapel of St. Mary's Seminary & University (dedicated 1808) Marker

Inscription.
Drawing of historic seminary chapel by Maximilian Godefroy, c. 1806 The historic chapel of St. Mary's Seminary & University (est. 1791) was built by the Sulpician Fathers and dedicated in 1808. It was designed by Maximilian Godefroy and is recognized as the first neo-Gothic style church in the country. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

The chapel was the spiritual center of the seminary and college the Sulpician Fathers operated at the site. Families in the surrounding neighborhood and members of Baltimore's Haitian refugee community also worshipped here.

St. Mary's Seminary & University is located today in the Roland Park neighborhood of the city.

Maximilian Godefroy
(1765 - c. 1847)
Chapel Architect French-born architect who taught on the faculty of the Sulpician Fathers' St. Mary's College (1799-1852) and was commissioned to design the chapel. Other Baltimore examples of his work are the Battle Monument (1825) and the First Unitarian Church (1818).

Rev. James Hector Joubert, P.S.S.
(1777 - 1843)
Co-founder, Oblate Sisters of Providence
Father Joubert was in charge of the Sulpician

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Fathers' special ministry to Haitian refugees, 1827-1843.

Efforts to establish a school for this community led to the founding of the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

The Lower Chapel — Chapelle Basse — of the St. Mary's Seminary Chapel The Lower Chapel — Chapelle Basse — of St. Mary's Chapel as it is today. The lower chapel was used for religious education classes, confraternity meetings, and as a worship space for the neighborhood parish and Haitian refugee community.

Mother Mary (Elizabeth) Lange, O.S.P.
(c. 1794-1882)
Foundress, Oblate Sisters of Providence
First Mother Superior General In 1829 the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the country's first Roman Catholic community for women religious of color, was formally established in Baltimore. Founding members were Elizabeth Lange, Marie Balas, Rosine Boegue, and Almaide Duchemin.

All four women had been associated with the seminary chapel through the confraternities (lay devotional associations) directed by the Sulpician Fathers and the Haitian refugee community that worshipped in the lower chapel.

Dedicated to serving people of color, the Oblate Sisters of Providence

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 8, 2023

2. Historic Chapel of St. Mary's Seminary & University (dedicated 1808) Marker

have opened and staffed schools, social outreach programs, an orphanage, and a home for the elderly over their history.

5 St. Mary's Court In June 1828 the founding members of the Oblate Sisters of Providence opened a novitiate and established a school for girls in this house at 5 St. Mary's Court. While in residence, they attended services at the seminary chapel.

St. Frances Academy is the successor to the school founded at 5 St. Mary's Court. It is located today in East Baltimore and is the oldest continuously operating school for black Catholic children in the United States.

St. Mary's Court is across from the chapel and was the original entrance to the seminary property. The house is no longer standing.

[Caption:]
The Oblate Sisters of Providence gathered at the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to observe their centennial anniversary in 1929. Members of the community are photographed with Archbishop Michael J. Curley.

Erected by U.S. Province of the Society of St. Sulpice.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture

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• Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks, and the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1828.

Location. 39° 17.739′ N, 76° 37.422′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Seton Hill. It can be reached from the intersection of North Paca Street (Maryland Route 129) and George Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 N Paca St, Baltimore MD 21201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in the Chesapeake Bay Region,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Mary's Seminary (a few steps from this marker); Chapel of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple (a few steps from this marker); St. Mary's Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Mother Seton House (within shouting distance of this marker); How did this park get its name? (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Mary's Seminary Chapel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sons of St. Mary's: Called to Serve, Educated to Lead (about 300 feet away); Holy Women of Paca Street (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 367 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.