Fourth Superior, Mother Marie Louise Noel had been received as a postulant along with her mother (Sister Chantal). These two members of a prominent Wilmington family turned over all their property and wealth to the Oblates when they received the habit. The order was enriched by several thousand dollars.

The Most Reverend Samuel Eccleston was Archbishop of Baltimore when 27-year old Mother Louise was first elected Superior in 1844. He died in 1851, the same year that Mother Mary Gertrude Thomas was elected. When Mother Louise returned to office in 1861, the Most Reverend Francis Patrick Kenrick was nearing the end of his twelve year term as sixth archbishop of Baltimore. He was followed, in 1864, by the Most Reverend Martin John Spalding. The Most Reverend James Roosevelt Bayley was the next archbishop, from 1872 until 1877 when he was succeeded by the Most Reverend James Gibbons. Mother Marie Louise Noel headed the Oblate community under the leadership of these noted prelates.

Mother Louise's first three years in office were painful and difficult. Mother Mary Frances Balas died, March 27, 1845. Mother Theresa Duchemin, the community's vicar, left for Monroe, Michigan, in September 1845. School enrollment dropped; the Sisters were taking in washing and ironing to keep themselves and the children alive.

Reverend Thaddeus Anwander, C.SS.R. came to the rescue of the Oblates on October 15, 1847. Oblates were replaced at St. Mary's Seminary by Sisters of Charity in 1849. That year also marked the end of Father Deluol's twenty-year tenure as Superior there. Father Anwander remained the community's director for eight years before his transfer to New Orleans, May 7, 1855.

Father James Poirier, C.SS.R., who succeeded Father Anwander as director, made an addition to the Constitution. His note legalized sewing as an auxiliary occupation. Actually, the Oblates had been engaged in vestment making and fine sewing for financial support since 1834.

Towards the end of the summer of 1861 Mother Gertrude resigned because of ill health. The community once again elected Mother Marie Louise. September 4, 1861 marks the beginning of Mother Louise's third term. In 1868, her re-election was unanimous. Altogether she experienced nine elections or three terms.

Mother Louise endured many, many sorrows, mingled with some great joys. She had worked in cooperation with Jesuit Father Peter Louis Miller, who directed the community from 1860 until 1877, with Father Edward Sourin, S.J., his successor, and with the Josephites who inherited the Negro mission field in the archdiocese of Baltimore in 1878. Hers was the humiliation of seeing her Sisters, who had been assigned to teach at St. Francis Xavier School on Calvert Street in September 1878, dismissed by the pastor, in February 1880. Another school had been opened on Lombard Street, September 3, 1877. It closed in 1885. The Sisters were reduced to begging on the streets of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Mother Louise saw the Philadelphia mission open in 1863 and close in 1871. She saw the New Orleans mission open in 1866 and close in 1873. She directed the celebration of the community's golden jubilee in 1879 and witnessed the death of the beloved foundress, Mother Mary Lange in 1882.

Mother Marie Louise was blinded by cataracts. In 1874, she underwent surgery without the benefit of pain-killers of any kind. This first operation and a second failed, but the third surgery restored her sight.

Mother Marie Louise's parting advice to her novices exemplified her own life: "Never take back what you have once given to God." March 27, 1885, three weeks short of her Golden Jubliee, Mother Marie Louise went home to the Lord she had loved and served so generously, so courageously, so heroically.