The founding of the Visitation in the Midwest occurred in 1833.

A small group of Visitation nuns left the Georgetown, D.C. Visitation in 1833 to establish an academy for young women in Kaskaskia, IL. When the Mississippi submerged the school in 1844, the whole project was transferred to St. Louis where we have been ever since.

On May 4th 2008, the final celebration of the 175th festivities, was a glorious success. Mass was offered by Archbishop Burke and followed by refreshments.

We are looking forward to the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Visitation Order in Annecy, France in 1610.

We honored St Francis de Sales, our founder, in 2007. In 2008 we honored St Jane de Chantal, our foundress.

In honor of the foundation of the Visitation a pilgrimage to Annecy and other places of interest to the Visitation Sisters occurred in early summer of 2009.

We will keep you posted about events celebrating our 400th anniversary when they are finalized.

We, the Sisters of the Visitation of St. Louis, have come from seven different houses to live in a community whose primary focus for nearly 173 years has been prayer and the education of women in the Salesian tradition. Historically, we have responded to circumstances. Today, we seek to mold our own future by incorporating our education and experiences into the contemporary culture so as to deepen our relationship with God and to contribute to the good of our neighbor. We need courage to risk ongoing renewal as a faith community growing in trust in God, love of one another, and appreciation of our differences. As a prayerful community bonded by love and forgiveness, we search for new life in our charism by living Jesus' compassion. - Our Mission Statement