Immaculate Conception Province

On August, 1896, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd was traveling from Chicago to visit the first eastern United States convent in St. Stanislaus parish in South Philadelphia.  After an official visit to Archbishop Patrick John Ryan, Blessed Mary and her two companions went to see Mother Katherine Drexel.  Their meeting was a brief one because Mother Katherine was leaving for Africa the following day.

On their return trip to the South Philadelphia convent, the Foundress, extending her arm, pointed and said to Mother Lauretta: "It would bring me great joy if some day we could establish a home here where the sisters could perpetually adore our Lord Jesus."  Overhearing these words, the other companion scrutinized the area near which was a small bridge, and not too far from it a train station.  Their train slowed down there and and they were able to read the sign: "TORRESDALE".

When the United States convents of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth became quite numerous, they were divided into three provinces: Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.  The year was 1918 and the first provincial home in the Philadelphia region was established in West Conshohocken, PA.

The estate located here was acquired from Rev. Benedict Tomiak, pastor of St. Josephat parish in Manayunk, PA.  It was a magnificent mansion surrounded by woods and water falls, but needed alterations for an orphanage which the priest planned to establish.

Transactions with the proper Church authorities in 1911 completed, Father Tomiak procured the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth from Chicago and granted them the property under the condition that they would upkeep it as an orphanage for boys.

It was this estate that became the first provincial home of the sisters in the Philadelphia region.  However, the location of this home could not serve the province well.  Communications with the convents was difficult; the place was too distant from the city; the space was too limited for the needs of a province.

In 1920, Mother Valentine, first provincial superior of the Philadelphia province sought to carry out the recommendations of the Congregation's highest authority that each province should have a home suitable for the needs of the province.

After some consultation, she agreed to purchase the C. Wilmer Middleton estate in the Torresdale section of Philadelphia, PA.  It was December 6, 1920.  The property included a two story building with a large attic, a garage, and a smaller building which had been used for servants.  The estate was surrounded by a lovely park with many trees and shrubs and it gave promise of extension on its twenty-seven acres.  The sisters occupied the premises in February 1921.

The Middleton estate was beautiful and in good condition, but the chapel and the rest of the building proved to be too small for the work carried on in the province, and could not accommodate the number of sisters who came there for their annual retreats.  It became necessary to start seeking permission and funds to begin a new building adequate enough to serve the sisters growing needs.

Time Line

1889        Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish, Scranton, PA (1889 - 1977) (1986 - 1998)
1891        St. Stanislaus, B.M. Parish, Philadelphia, PA (1891 - 1982)
1905       St. Adalbert Parish, Philadelphia, PA
1910        St. Hedwig Parish, Philadelphia, PA (1910 - 1977)
1911        St. John Cantius Parish, Philadelphia, PA
1911        St. Mary's Home for Boys, Conshohocken, PA (1911 - 1936)
1911        St. Josephat Parish, Manayunk, PA (1911 - 1912)
1911        St. Hedwig Parish, Chester, PA (1911 - 1917)
1927        Breaking of ground for a new building to serve as the provincialate, novitiate, and high school for girls
                Blessing of the cornerstone of the new provincialate building.
1927        Sacred Heart of Mary Parish, Baltimore, MD (1927 - 1999)
1928        Opening of Nazareth Academy High School
                Formal dedication of the new provincialate building by Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia.
1928        St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, Philadelphia, PA (1928 - 1992)
1928        St. Kunegunda Parish, McAdoo, PA (1928 - 1981)
1936        St. Mary's Villa, Ambler, PA
1937        St. Anthony Parish, Throop, PA (1937 - 1972)
1940        Nazareth Hospital
1944        Colegio Espiriu Santo, Hato Rey, PR (1944 - 1988)
1951        Villa Nazareth, Meadowbrook, PA (1951 - 2000)
1954        Holy Family College
1955        St. Brendan Parish, Miami, FL (1955 - 1993)
1955        Queen of Peace Parish, Ardsley, PA
1956        Visitation BVM Parish, Norristown, PA
1959        Our Lady of Calvary Parish, Philadelphia, PA
1960        St. Gregory Parish, Plantation, FL (1960 - 1990)
1961        St. Katherine of Siena Parish, Philadelphia, PA
1965        St. John Neumann Nursing Home, Philadelphia, PA
1965        Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville, PA (1965 - 1979)
1978        Mount Nazareth Retirement Home for Sisters, Philadelphia, PA

Home    S. Stella & Companions    History    Ministry    Development    Where Are We?   
To find out more general information about the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, please visit our web site at: www.csfn.org

Contact Information:

All information is copyright of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.  This page was last modified on 04/20/2006.