Convent of Mercy (Mobile, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
The Convent of Mercy, known today as the St. Francis Place Condominiums, is a small complex of historic Roman Catholic
religious buildings in Mobile
, Alabama
, United States
. It consists of two buildings, the former convent and the former school. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places
on April 24, 1992 as a part of Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile Multiple Property Submission
. It, along with the Convent and Academy of the Visitation
, is one of two surviving historic convent complexes in Mobile.
first came to Mobile in 1884 with the new bishop, Dominic Manucy
, for service in St. Joseph's Parish. Their social works mission included visiting the sick in their homes, the destitute in the poorhouse
and the imprisoned in the jails. They also performed instruction in schools and prepared sacramentals
. They founded St. Joseph's School, later to be called the Convent of Mercy Academy, in St. Joseph's Parish in 1895. St. Joseph School was initially taught in five frame buildings on the property, with one as the residence of the Sisters.
The cornerstone for a new -story Baroque Revival–style building was laid on September 8, 1908. It was designed by architect A. H. Downey as a combination convent and school to replace the former frame structures. The student body grew over the next two decades to the extent that a new 3-story brick building was built to the rear of existing building in 1928. It would serve as the school, while the 1908 building would serve as the convent. The school closed in 1968 and the Sisters moved their convent to another Mobile location in 1969. The former school building served to house the Empress Chandelier Company for a time. Then, in 2002, the complex was restored and renovated to house the St. Francis Place Condominiums.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
religious buildings in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It consists of two buildings, the former convent and the former school. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on April 24, 1992 as a part of Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile Multiple Property Submission
Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile Multiple Property Submission
The Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile Multiple Property Submission is a multiple property submission of Roman Catholic properties in Mobile, Alabama that were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places...
. It, along with the Convent and Academy of the Visitation
Convent and Academy of the Visitation
The Convent and Academy of the Visitation, properly known today as the Visitation Monastery, is a historic complex of Roman Catholic religious buildings and a small cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The buildings and grounds were documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1937...
, is one of two surviving historic convent complexes in Mobile.
History
The Sisters of MercySisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
first came to Mobile in 1884 with the new bishop, Dominic Manucy
Dominic Manucy
Bishop Dominic Manucy was a Roman Catholic bishop and the third Bishop of Mobile. He was a member of a prominent Minorican family from St. Augustine, Florida, and a first cousin of Bishop Anthony Dominic Pellicer of San Antonio, Texas...
, for service in St. Joseph's Parish. Their social works mission included visiting the sick in their homes, the destitute in the poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
and the imprisoned in the jails. They also performed instruction in schools and prepared sacramentals
Sacramentals
Sacramentals are material objects, things or actions set apart or blessed by the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Churches, and Old Catholic Churches to manifest the respect due to the Sacraments, and so to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these...
. They founded St. Joseph's School, later to be called the Convent of Mercy Academy, in St. Joseph's Parish in 1895. St. Joseph School was initially taught in five frame buildings on the property, with one as the residence of the Sisters.
The cornerstone for a new -story Baroque Revival–style building was laid on September 8, 1908. It was designed by architect A. H. Downey as a combination convent and school to replace the former frame structures. The student body grew over the next two decades to the extent that a new 3-story brick building was built to the rear of existing building in 1928. It would serve as the school, while the 1908 building would serve as the convent. The school closed in 1968 and the Sisters moved their convent to another Mobile location in 1969. The former school building served to house the Empress Chandelier Company for a time. Then, in 2002, the complex was restored and renovated to house the St. Francis Place Condominiums.