Adrian Dominican Sisters

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The Adrian Dominican Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious order of Dominican sisters, in the U.S. state of Michigan. Their motherhouse is in Adrian. Their official title is the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary.

[edit] History

On December 7, 2002, the Congregation of Holy Cross merged into the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary. The members of the Congregation of Holy Cross were colloquially known as the Edmonds Dominican Sisters.

The Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan, USA, trace their origin to Holy Cross Convent, Regensburg (Ratisbon), Bavaria, a convent established in 1233. In 1853 three sisters from this convent were sent to New York in response to a request for sisters to provide religious education for German immigrant children. These sisters settled on Second Street in the Williamsburg section of New York City. This original foundation eventually became known as the Amityville (New York) Dominicans. In 1869, however, a separate and independent foundation was established at Newburgh, New York. From this congregation sisters were sent to St. Mary Parish (1879) and St. Joseph Parish (1880) in Adrian, Michigan. In 1884 additional sisters were sent to Adrian to establish a hospital for injured railroad workers. Adrian became a province of the Newburgh congregation with Mother Camilla Madden as the provincial.

As the need for the hospital diminished, Mother Camilla turned to education and opened St. Joseph Academy in 1896. Students came in large numbers to this boarding school and the province grew rapidly with new members. At the same time the Congregation was called upon to staff other schools in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and New Mexico. In 1923, through the efforts of Mother Emmanuel Phelan of Newburgh and Mother Camilla Madden, canonical separation of the Adrian province from Newburgh was achieved. Bishop Michael James Gallagher of Detroit and Archbishop (later Cardinal) Patrick Hayes of New York negotiated the separation. Mother Camilla Madden became the first Mother General of the new independent Congregation in Adrian, a position she held for only six months prior to her death in 1924. She was succeeded by Mother Augustine Walsh.At this time the Congregation numbered 440 members.

Until her death in 1933 Mother Augustine Walsh continued the work of Mother Camilla. She was succeeded by Mother Gerald Barry who held the position of Prioress General of the Congregation until her death in 1961. The Congregation and its ministries grew extensively during this time. Education continued to be a major endeavor of the Congregation during these years. But the Congregation developed ministries in social service, particularly in parish visitation, and opened three hospitals, two in Santa Cruz, California, (now consolidated at Dominican Santa Cruz Hospital) and one in Henderson, Nevada. St. Rose Dominican Hospital. Mother Camilla Madden had opened St. Joseph College in Adrian (now Siena Heights University) during her time as provincial. Mother Gerald Barry expanded the Congregation’s ministry in higher education by opening Barry College (now a thriving University) in 1940.She also built a House of Studies at The Catholic University of America to accommodate sisters studying for advanced degrees.The Congregation grew to over 2000 members.

Under the leadership of Mother Gerald the Congregation extended its ministries overseas—to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Peru. While the work in Peru has been discontinued, service over the years was extended to Malawi, Kenya and South Africa, and continues today in South Africa. Over the years of leadership of Mother Gerald and her successor, Mother Genevieve Weber, the Congregation also served in the formation of two new congregations—the Glenmary Sisters originally located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of Remedies in Papanga, the Philippines.

The Congregation under Mother Gerald achieved pontifical status in 1944. Later, in 1959, as the Congregation grew in numbers, it was divided into five provinces with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan (2), Chicago, Illinois, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Santa Cruz, California. In addition there was an Overseas Vicariate and a Motherhouse Vicariate.

The Adrian Dominican Congregation entered into its General Chapter of Renewal in 1968 after Vatican Council II. This was a time of transition as it was for all United States congregations of women religious. A succession of sisters served as Prioress of the Congregation during this period and up to the present time—Sisters Rosemary Ferguson, Carol Johannes, Nadine Foley, Patricia Walter, Janet Capone and currently Donna Markham. General Councilors became full time participants with the Prioresses in directing the life in mission of the Congregation. Sisters Nadine Foley and Donna Markham (a Councilor at the time) have been elected president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States. Sisters Nadine Foley and Patricia Walter have represented United States religious women on the Council of the International Union of Superiors General.

Acting upon the directives sent from Rome after Vatican Council II, the Congregation developed new Constitutions that received approval on April 29, 1989. This Constitution and Statutes replaced earlier ones approved in 1937 and 1944. The Constitution incorporated a new governance organization based on Mission Chapters (equivalent to provinces) headed by Chapter Prioresses (provincials). The latter, with the General Council, constitute a Leadership Council who direct the mission of the Congregation.

Since Vatican Council II, the Adrian Dominican Sisters have continued their ministries in education and healthcare and expanded their ministries topresidents, hospital administrators, liturgical artists, diocesan directors of schools and religious education. The Congregation has developed funds for athe support of ministries to the poor according to well defined criteria. It has a growing Associate Program consisting of women and men who, after a period of formation, associate with the vowed members for their own spiritual growth and support in their own ministerial lives under the inspiration of the Dominican tradition.

The Congregation currently sponsors 2 universities, a healthcare system to which its two hospitals belong, and one long term healthcare facility. In 2002, after a three year process of exploration and consultation, the Dominican Sisters of Edmonds, Washington, in their General Chapter voted to merge with the Dominican Sisters of Adrian. The merger was completed in 2002. Both stemmed from the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, who are now part of another merger with two congregations in the Northeast.

Today the Adrian Dominican Sisters number 988 members and serve in ministries of education, healthcare and social service and the other ministries that have developed from them. Adrian Dominicans serve in these ministries across the United States as well as in, Haiti, China, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and South Africa.

[edit] Dates of Terms of Mothers General, or Prioresses of the Congregation

Mother Camilla Madden	1923-1924 (Provincial, 1892-1923)
Mother Augustine Walsh	1924-1933
Mother Gerald Barry	1933-1963
Mother Genevieve Weber	1964-1968
Sister Rosemary Ferguson	1968-1978
Sister Carol Johannes	1978-1986
Sister Nadine Foley	1986-1992
Sister Patricia Walter	1992-1998
Sister Janet Capone	1998-2004
Sister Donna Markham	2004-