MA250 Panel Explores the Story of Emmanuel as New England’s First Catholic College for Women

The story of Emmanuel as a trailblazer for education and opportunity was recently highlighted as part of a statewide celebration of Massachusetts history.

“Emmanuel was not founded in an educational vacuum,” said Associate Professor of History Dr. Violetta Ravagnoli. “It was founded in Boston, a place where education carried enormous prestige, but where access to that culture remained uneven, especially for Catholic women.”

Dr. Ravagnoli’s comments came during a panel discussion about the history of education and Catholicism in Massachusetts, which was hosted by the College on April 16th. The event was organized in partnership with Massachusetts 250, a yearlong celebration through the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism that is highlighting Bay State contributions to independence and innovation throughout U.S. history.

Emmanuel’s status as New England’s first Catholic College for women and its founding in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) were key touchpoints in the faculty perspectives from the panel.

“This discussion traces a remarkable journey, from suspicion and exclusion to Catholic education flourishing here, in the heart of Boston,” said Vice President of Mission & Ministry Fr. Federico Cinocca, S.T.D “It wasn't always a smooth road, but it was a road that led eventually to institutions such as Emmanuel College and to the pioneering work of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.”

The panel included Professor of History Dr. William Leonard, who highlighted the far-reaching influences of the Puritans who founded Massachusetts Colony in 1630. They established an enduring legacy of prizing literacy and education but also viewed religious uniformity as a cornerstone of society. Puritan laws in 1647 and 1700 banned Catholicism prior to the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which promised religious freedoms.

“Even after its establishment, anti-Catholic sentiment continued, intensified by the arrival of tens of thousands of Irish immigrants,” said Dr. Leonard.

That was the environment braved by the SNDdeN when they arrived in Massachusetts in the mid-19th century. Education, social justice, and service have always been central to their mission, and they began providing education for recent immigrants in Boston’s North End in 1849.

Nativist sentiment came in waves throughout the 19th century, and 1854 the anti-immigrant Know Nothing Party took over all three branches of Massachusetts government. The Know Nothings launched investigations into sensationalist rumors about Catholic institutions, including a SNDdeN school in Roxbury that was accused of confining women within its convent. The investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing; a follow-up inquiry found that the investigation was baseless and biased.

“Together these episodes reveal the long and often violent path that Catholics have traveled in Boston, from exclusion and suspicion to acceptance and influence,” said Dr. Leonard.

Perspectives from Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr. Lisa Stepanski highlighted how education in the Bay State was originally rooted in religion, but grew increasingly secular over time, emerging as a distinct profession by the early 19th century. With industrialization rising and creating more lucrative opportunities, women increasingly stepped forward as teachers — though they still faced exclusion and discrimination.

“Despite the movement of women into teaching, most avenues of higher education remained closed to them until after the Civil War,” said Dr. Stepanski. “The reason for women’s acceptance as professional teachers was purely economic; they would work for less than their male counterparts.”

The barriers to higher education still faced by Catholic women in the early 20th century were central to perspectives on Emmanuel’s founding, which were offered by Dr. Ravagnoli.

“The response to this exclusion was not complaints; it was institution building,” said Dr. Ravagnoli. “Religious communities such as the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur responded to this moment not only by teaching in parish schools, but also by helping to create colleges that would prepare both sisters and lay women for broader intellectual and professional work.”

Ultimately, Ravagnoli’s account describes Emmanuel claiming a place in Boston’s world of higher education—on terms that made room for Catholic identity and women’s education. She also noted that tolerance is codified within the College charter, which states that no student will be refused admission or other benefits based on their religious beliefs.

“That clause matters,” said Dr. Ravagnoli. “It places Emmanuel within the wider Massachusetts story of toleration.”

Emmanuel College has been a co-ed institution since 2001.

In the spirit of the Massachusetts 250 theme, Fr. Federico closed the discussion by noting that Massachusetts has always been a place of firsts, citing the nation’s first public school and written constitution as examples.

“As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we also celebrate the living legacy of those who built institutions such as Emmanuel College, people who believe education, faith, and service can change the world,” said Fr. Federico. “This work continues in us, in our students, and in the new firsts we have yet to imagine.”