In 1924, 11 Sisters of Notre Dame of the Cleveland, Ohio province were assigned to California and became pioneers in the West. Reverend Mother Mary Cecilia was inspired to accept the offer of parish schools in California because she recognized the need for a house where sick and infirm Sisters could recover their health. Certainly California’s mild climate and sunshine would be a relief for them after the cold, snowy winters in Ohio.
The pioneers arrived at the Los Angeles train station on August 30th, which is now annually celebrated as Founders’ Day by the sisters of the California province. Six of the sisters were destined for St. Matthias: Sisters Mary Bernard, Hildegarde, Isabel, Walburge, Ellen and Amandis. The remaining five, Sisters Mary Balbina, Clarissa, Alice, Sirana and Blanche went immediately to St. Lawrence.
Both groups found an inviting convent and elementary school awaiting them. They came at the request of the pastors of St. Matthias Parish, Huntington Park and St. Lawrence Parish in Watts and with the approval of Rt. Rev. John J. Cantwell, bishop of the Los Angeles-San Diego diocese.
Soon the Sisters of Notre Dame were also asked to teach religion to public school children in several neighboring parishes. They eventually staffed twenty one schools around the state. In 1948 a novitiate was opened in Los Angeles and in 1961 a new province of the Sisters of Notre Dame was formed in California. |
