Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan (1825-1915)
Courtesy, College of Saint Elizabeth

Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan immigrated from Ireland to New York in 1842. She made her vows as a Sister of Charity of New York in 1847, and in 1857 began her work in New Jersey. The Sisters of Charity of New Jersey opened their mother house in Madison in 1860 at Convent Station. After 1863, Mother Xavier was officially recognized as the mother superior of the order. In 1899, under her leadership, the order founded the College of Saint Elizabeth, the first four-year women's college in the state.