An Hour With Pierre Toussaint

Spend an hour with this charitable man who rose from the humblest beginning to capture the attention of New York City.

Pierre Toussaint was born a slave of the Roman Catholic Bérard family in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). When the slaves of the island revolted in 1791, Bérard moved to New York with his family and five slaves, including Toussaint, his younger sister, and his aunt. Apprenticed to a local hairdresser, Pierre learned the trade quickly and eventually worked very successfully in the homes of rich women in New York City. Toussaint gained his freedom in 1807.

Toussaint and his wife, Juliette Noel, attended daily Mass at St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street, where Elizabeth Ann Seton had attended. The couple performed many charitable works including opening their home to orphaned African-American boys, poor priests, and other travelers.

Influenced by the sisters of Mother Seton, Toussaint helped raise money to build St. Patrick's Cathedral. The Toussaints also supported the Oblate Sisters of Providence, a religious order of African-American women who were devoted to education. He was declared Venerable in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

An Hour With Pierre Toussaint creates a time of reflection, recollection, learning, contemplation, and prayer. In addition to a short biography, it includes selections from his writings on using God's blessings wisely, leading others to trust, succoring the sick, discerning what is important, and persevering against great physical hardship. It concludes with a summary of his spirituality.

Pamphlet. This item is not returnable.

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