Georgetown Visitation Convent was founded by Archbishop Leonard Neale in 1799 in response to a need for catholic education for young women. Our founding sisters and the Archbishop discerned that the charism of the Visitation Order, with its emphasis on liberty of spirit, was most suitable for their small community of religious and their desire to live a simple contemplative life of prayer and service. In a unique manner they built a tradition which blended the values of our beginnings as a nation with the longstanding heritage of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.

This vision has been nurtured and strengthened by the response in faith of succeeding generations to the challenges of their times. The charism of the Visitation Order, one of gentleness in dealing with one another and of great humility before God, has infused our efforts to build a strong community life in which our diverse temperaments are folded into the unique history of our past as a monastery. Our desire to remain loyal daughters of prayer, the gospel, and the church has enabled us to maintain an apostolate in which transmission of the faith and our Visitation heritage retain primary importance.

As we face the challenges caused by aging and decreasing numbers, we realize anew our need to be mutually supportive, understanding, and accepting of ourselves and others and their needs. We are striving to meet the uncertainty of the future with peaceful hearts, openness to the Spirit, and with an appreciation for the value of our vocation.

With hearts bonded in love, we strive to share one vision and one spirit. Prompted by our charism and strengthened by our life of prayer, we endeavor to live the mystery of the Visitation by receiving and nurturing Christ in our hearts and hastening to carry him to others in a spirit of faith.