The church traces its origins to St. Antoine aux Rivière Raisin, which was founded by ethnic French Canadians on October 15, 1788.

[3] Its first Mother Superior was Theresa Maxis Duchemine, an African-American woman of Haitian descent who was born in Baltimore.

She was a founding member there of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African-American religious order in the United States.

It was based in the Monroe Catholic Central building, which had been expanded next to the church at 108 West Elm Avenue.

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