1872-1899

At 1:00 AM on August 28, 1899, fire breaks out in St. Agnes Convent with 350 children and 42 Sisters and workers inside. Fire spreads to nine buildings. Older boys and Sisters carry out children. Some are dropped out of windows to mattresses below. Volunteer firemen and many others come to help. All but five […]

Under the leadership of Mother Dominic Dowling, the community grows and thrives. Holy Rosary Convent continues to serve as the “mother” house to the fledgling congregation.

Education of children becomes a focus of ministry for the Sisters as pastors are eager for teachers in their parish schools. The first of these schools is St. John School in Piermont, NY (1890), followed by St. Ann School in Nyack (1897). In 1900, the Sisters open St. Martin Academy in the Bronx in 1900

St. Benedict’s Home for Colored Children (Rye, NY) is founded by Reverend John E. Burke, who invites the Sisters to provide care for destitute Negro children. Benefactor assistance is essential; when donations begin to decrease In 1897, Archbishop Corrigan hands over the Home to a missionary group that can provide funding.

A thirty-acre farm in Sparkill, New York is purchased, remodeled, and named St. Agnes Convent and Home. A cottage childcare system is introduced with a program of education focused on practical knowledge and a variety of skills that would prepare the children for life. The home expands to eleven buildings and over 300 boys live

The small community grows and the ministry to children at Holy Rosary Convent thrives. Mother Dominic decides to take in boys as well as girls to keep brothers and sisters together. More room is needed.

Mother Dominic Dowling is chosen as the new Prioress. With fearless and practical leadership abilities, she begins to stabilize the small congregation whose ranks had fallen to eight members, following the departure of 14 Sisters in the year following the death of foundress. Caring for orphaned children becomes the major ministry. Mother Dominic sees the

On May 6, 1876, Alice Mary makes her vows and becomes Sister Catherine Mary Antoninus, the Mother Prioress of the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary. With Lucy and another woman, the Congregation has three members, growing to nine by the end of the year. The Sisters shelter destitute women and children in

In 1872 Alice Mary and Lucy Thorpe, daughters of well-known English landscape artist John Thorpe, leave their comfortable home in London to sail on the S.S. England to New York City for the purpose of caring for the sick and destitute. For four years they visit the sick and needy women while planning to provide