Jeanne Fontbonne

Jeanne Fontbonne, CSJ (31 March 1759 – 22 November 1843), more commonly known by her name in religion St. John Fontbonne, was a French religious sister. She founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon in 1808 and served as its first superior general.

Life Born in Bas-en-Basset, Forez (now in Haute-Loire), on 31 March 1759, Jeanne Fontbonne was the youngest child of Michel and Jeanne Theillère Fontbonne. In 1778 she entered a house of the Sisters of St. Joseph, which had just been established at Monistrol (Haute-Loire) by Bishop de Gallard of Le Puy. The following year she received the religious habit. At the age of 26 she was chosen by the community to be their Superior and remained there until the French Revolution. She and her sisters established a hospital

At the outbreak of the French Revolution she and her community followed Bishop de Gallard in refusing to sign the Oath of Civil Constitution of the Clergy. Forced to disperse her community, she remained until she was forced to leave, and the convent taken possession of by the Commune. She returned to her father's home, and was soon imprisoned for 11 months at Saint-Didier and only the fall of Robespierre on the day before that appointed for the execution saved her from the guillotine.

In 1807, Fontbonne was called to Saint-Étienne to assume responsibility for Les Filles Noire, a group of 12 young women and members of dispersed congregations. At the request of Cardinal Joseph Fesch, Archbishop of Lyon, and under Fontbonne's formation, these women became the first Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. She restored the asylum at Monistrol and eventually managed to repurchase and reopen the former convent. On 10 April 1812, the congregation received government authorization. In 1816, Fontbonne was appointed Superior General of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. Fontbonne College, now Fontbonne University, in Saint Louis is named in her honor.