ɪn dʒˈuːn, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː, fˈaɪv sˈɪstɚz—pˈeɪtɹɪs kˈænɪf, ᵻlˈɪzəbəθ kˈɛli, mˈɑːɹɡɹət mˈæn, fɹˈænsɪs oʊɹˈaɪli, ænd dʒˈoʊsəf oʊɹˈaɪli—ɐkˈʌmpənid baɪ bˈɪʃəp lˈoːɹəz ænd ðə nˈuːli ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd bˈɪʃəp ʌv sənt. lˈuːi, pˈiːɾɚ ɹˈɪtʃɚd kˈɛnɹɪk, lˈɛft baɪ tɹˈeɪn hˈɛdɪŋ wˈɛst.
In June, 1843, five sisters—Patrice Caniff, Elizabeth Kelly, Margaret Mann, Francis O'Reilly, and Joseph O'Reilly—accompanied by Bishop Loras and the newly appointed bishop of St. Louis, Peter Richard Kenrick, left by train heading west.