Dr. Hna. Donna Maria Moses of
the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose presented on the European Influences on Dominican
congregations founded in the United States.
The two greatest influences were the foundations in Stone, England and
Regensburg, Germany. During the
expansion period from 1850 and 1950 a total of 28 congregations were
founded. Eleven draw their roots from
Regensburg in Bavaria. Although many
came hoping to preach the Gospel to poor natives, their main mission was to
educate poor immigrants from European countries and tend the sick. In order to carry out this mission the
foundresses spent the better part of their lives establishing a rule that would
allow them to live an apostolic life. All
existing rules at that time were for monastic life. With the approval of the Master General and
the Pope they turned to the English Dominicans and borrowed from the 3rd
order Rule written by the foundress of the Stone Dominicans to create their own
Constitutions. They negotiated with
local bishops and business men to purchase land and build numerous
institutions, many of which still exist today. Between 1822 and 1997, 35 Dominican
congregations were founded in the United States. They founded 385 schools, 71 academies, 19
orphanages, 25 hospitals and 19 colleges, all of which were owned and operated
by 3rd Order Dominican Sisters.
During the same period 13 monasteries of 2nd Order Dominican
nuns were also founded.
