history of our congregationOrigins
Unlike many of the Dominican Congregations in the United States today, the Oxford Dominicans are not a branch of the Regensburg Family Tree. Our roots are in Repcin, Czechoslovakia - today called Czech Republic. In 1913 four Dominican sisters from Repcin came to Pennsylvania at the request of a priest to share in the missionary endeavors of his parish. Over a nine year period the sisters worked in Ford City and Homestead. In 1921 they arrived in Windber.
Beginnings
The Congregation had its unofficial beginnings in 1923 when three postulants joined the Czechoslovakian sisters. Sister Joseph Gazda, one of the original postulants, lives at the Motherhouse today. In need of financial assistance, two of the sisters traveled to Detroit soliciting funds. They were invited to teach at a temporary school, later to become SS. Cyril and Methodius. Father Zalibera, the priest extending the invitation, later became the co-founder of the Congregation. The small group of sisters began to grow and the Major Superior in Czechoslovakia sent a Provincial Superior, Sister Raphael, to take charge of the spiritual formation of the young women. She remained with them until 1940. During the next 25 years, the sisters moved from Warren, to Pontiac and finally to Oxford, where the present Motherhouse is located.
Separation
World War II raised some serious communication questions for the sisters and separation from the European Motherhouse was suggested. On August 18, 1950 Bishop Allen J. Babcock, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, read the official Decree of Separation from the Sacred Congregation of Religious in Rome separating them from the Congregation of Blessed Zedislava, of Olomouc, Repcin, Czechoslovakia. Cardinal Mooney bestowed St. Rose of Lima as the patron of the Congregation.
Early Years
In the early years sisters served as teachers and administrators in parish schools in Detroit, Lansing, Marquette and Gaylord. A small number also served in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In 1948, the Pontiac Motherhouse, Menscola, was licensed as a convalescent home. The renovation of a large dairy barn on the Motherhouse grounds was completed in 1960 and St. Mary's Retreat House opened its doors for weekend activities. In the fall of that same year, Dominican Academy opened as a girls' boarding school. DeLima Junior College was founded in 1965 for the education of the sisters and later accepted lay women.
Today
Sisters are involved in a variety of ministries as lead
by the Spirit to serve. The Lourdes Campus has expanded from a ten-bed
convalescent home to Lourdes Nursing Home, Fox Manor (apartments
for seniors), Clausen Manor (home for Alzheimer's patients) and the Joseph
T. Mendelson Home (assisted living). St. Mary's Retreat House continues
to offer retreats and Days of Recollection. Dominican Center, a smaller
retreat facility, is fully utilized. A Montessori School is in full operation.
The Dominican Academy closed and DeLima Junior College was sold.