Sisters of Divine Providence Come to U.S., 1876

Sisters of Divine Providence Come to U.S., 1876 June 25, 2009

On this day in 1876, the first Sisters of Divine Providence came to the United States from Germany. The following history is taken from the community’s website:

The congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence was founded in 1851 in Germany by Wilhelm von Ketteler, Bishop of Mainz, and Stephanie Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche. We belong to the Marie de la Roche Province, one of three provinces (Germany, American-Caribbea, Korea) and one region (Peru) of an international community of 750 vowed members and 300 Associates. Bishop Ketteler was known as the “social justice bishop” because of his tireless work in helping oppressed, unskilled German laborers in their effort to unionize for just wages and decent working conditions. Today, “Workers Day” is celebrated in his honor in Mainz
Stephanie Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche, a French noblewoman, was given the title Mother Marie as the first leader of our Community. Bishop Ketteler was known as the “social justice bishop” because of his tireless work in helping oppressed, unskilled German laborers in their effort to unionize for just wages and decent working conditions. Today, “Workers Day” is celebrated in his honor in Mainz. Stephanie Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche, a French noblewoman, was given the title Mother Marie as the first leader of our Community. To meet the needs of the time, six Sisters from Germany set out for the United States in 1876 to teach the German immigrants who had settled in the Pittsburgh area. Our Sisters traditionally ministered as nurses, elementary and high school teachers. We administered three hospitals and numerous schools in Pittsburgh and surrounding localities. Our first Provincial House was located on Larimer Avenue in the East Liberty. In 1905, we moved a few blocks away to the Mount Immaculate Motherhouse on Lincoln Avenue. In 1927, we relocated to the current Provincial House in a North Hills suburb of Pittsburgh. From Pittsburgh, the Sisters went forth to St. Louis, Puerto Rico and Kingston, Massachusettes to carry out the mission of Providence.

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