Without experience in architecture, Sister Modesta had to erect a building. The project began in the autumn of 1875, and in July 1876 the chapel of the four-story building was completed and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. While the Sisters were happy to have a center, a heavy burden of

Ministry in Covington began on August 15, 1874, by Sister Mary Odilia and Sr. M. Ignatia. At first, life was very difficult, and these two sisters had many sacrifices to make. First, there was no convent; consequently, they stayed at a Franciscan convent. In addition, the way from the school

Father Reichlin, a pastor in Cleveland, had a very poor church and school with mounting debts. Worried about the sisters’ income, he was relieved at the sisters’ modest expectations, and he agreed joyfully to have two sisters take over the school until a third could come from Germany. Sisters began

An 18-hour train trip brought the sisters to Union Depot close to Lake Erie. Father Westerholt, pastor of St Peter Parish in Cleveland, met them. A half hour later they arrived by two carriages at the parish where ladies of the parish had supper ready. When the ladies left, the

The Sisters who came to America settled in Ohio (in Cleveland and Delphos) and in Covington, Kentucky. They are still there today. How did the Sisters get to these states? The pastor of the Mother of God Parish in Covington went to Europe in 1870. His bishop, August Többe, asked

Although Sister Maria Aloysia Wolbring spoke little about herself, there is much evidence of how other sisters treasured her. Interviews and letters told of her solicitude for the sisters’ well-being. Were they warm enough? Would they appreciate a surprise? Who could use some encouragement? Is anyone overburdened? An interview with

[As the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Sisters of Notre Dame in America approaches on July 4, 2024, my thoughts turn to the founding sister.] Sister Maria Aloysia was someone who always did what needed to be done, as was shown in her going to the United States as

The only Catholic Church in Toledo was St. Francis de Sales, serving all nationalities. German immigrants petitioned Bishop Louis Amadeus Rappe for a pastor and parish of their own. In January 1854 Father Charles Evrard was appointed as pastor. St. Mary School on Orange Street opened in September 1874. The

Cleveland, Ohio became the center for the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States. Within five years affiliations sprang up in Delphos, Toledo, Fremont, Millersville, Napoleon, Norwalk and Peru, Ohio. When the Kulturkampf abated, Mother Mary Chrysostom Heck returned to Germany on May 9, 1887, to re-establish the congregational

Sr. John the Evangelist Parish in Delphos was like a cornerstone foundation for what would become the Toledo, Ohio province. For that time until the present 2024 there have always been Sisters of Notre Dame in that town. It was a town that fostered religious vocations, and many sisters over