Religious Profession at Long Island Convent, 1900

Bishop McDonnell Administers the Vows to New Sisters of St. Dominic
AT AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.
Work That the Order is Doing at Amityville and Farmingdale in Training Boys and Girls
The Brooklyn Eagle, April 22, 1900

(Special to the Eagle.)

Amityville, L.I., April 21—A most impressive ceremony was that which was held in the chapel of the Sisters of St. Dominic Thursday, when sixteen young women, twelve of whom were from Brooklyn, renounced the world and took the veil.

Over two hundred persons from Brooklyn and Manhattan, friends of the candidates, were present at the ceremony, which was conducted by Right Rev. Bishop McDonnell of Brooklyn, who was assisted by the Rev. P. Schwartz, rector of the church here; the Rev. Fathers Zeller, Hauber, Trenkley, Hanselman, Schneider, Siegelack, Francis Keberly, Videns, Gerard, Connor and Beno of Brooklyn.

The candidates were the Misses Annie Knaut, Margaret Metzer, Margaret Krapf, Lizzie Posser, Frances Groh, Anna Remlinger, Anna Bock, Lizzie Kline, Teresa Uhlmann, Mary Fleischer, Julia Gellner, Anna Subrhof of Brooklyn, Mary Zoller of New York, Catherine Rosentreter of Germany, and Mary Comer of Ireland, who were all dressed in white, with white wreaths and veils as brides, and who carried candles, were attended by bridesmaids, who were also gowned in white cloth.

The young women entered the chapel with their attendants as the organ pealed forth a wedding march, and they were met at the altar by the Right Rev. Bishop McDonnnell, who after they had taken their vows and renounced the world gave them his blessing, a crucifix, rosary and the name by which they will be known.

Miss Knaut as Sister Mary Othilda, Miss Soller as Sister Mary Luitpold, Miss Metzer as Sister Mary Dulcessima, Miss Rosenbreter as Sister Mary Sigisbertus, Miss Krapf as Sister Mary Ludgerus, Miss Posser as Sister Mary Leo, Miss Groh as Sister Mary Eberhard, Miss Remlinger as Sister Mary Verona, Miss Bock as Sister Mary Octavia, Miss Bock as Sister Mary Leonide, Miss Comer as Sister Mary Rudolph, Miss Uhlmann as Sister Mary Marcellina, Miss Fleischer as Sister Mary Evarista, Miss Kellner as Sister Mary Brunonis, Miss Subrohf as Sister Mary Procobia.

Bishop McDonnell then delivered an impressive sermon bearing on the young women’s renunciation of the world, which was followed by the benediction. A feature of the services was the singing of the Te Deum by the Sisters of St. Dominic, and the offertory, “Ave Maria,” by one of the Sisters. Sister Mary Rose presided at the organ. The convent of the Sisters of St. Dominic, which is situated about three miles from the village, is delightfully located and is one of the largest on Long Island. In this institution the young sisters are trained during the postulancy, after which they take the habit and make their vows. The forty-four sisters who are at the convent now are teaching about one hundred and sixty orphan boys, ranging from 8 to 16 years, who are taken care of at the convent.

It is expected that the new orphan asylum at Farmingdale will be ready for occupancy by September 1 and then the boys from here will be taken to that place and taught a trade. At their present place of abode there are no facilities for teaching the boys anything but farming and the sisters, realizing the necessity of teaching the boys a trade, upon which they can rely after leaving the institution, adopted the idea of the new trade school which is nearly completed.

When the boys are taken to Farmingdale, girls will be brought here and taught by the sisters.

Besides the convent and the chapel there is also the infirmary of St. Catherine’s Hospital of Brooklyn which is in charge of the Sisters of St. Dominic. This convent has been established here for twenty years and during that time many additions have been made to the different buildings, which are now stupendous and cover a large tract of ground. A fine farm is conducted under the auspices of the sisters, who are greatly loved by the children they have in charge.