Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

Page 14 text:

6 LILIUM CONVALLIUM The Dominican Congregation of the Queen of the Holy Rosary On the eleventh day of November in the centennial year, 1876, three young Dominican Sisters from the Holy Cross Convent, Brooklyn, New York, arrived in San Francisco to take charge of St. Boniface Parochial School. They were sent by their Superiors, after the Most Reverend Sadoc J. Alemany, O. P., Archbishop of San Francisco, had repeatedly applied there for Sisters. The task assigned to the Sisters was an arduous one. St. Boniface School, now in the very heart of the city, was then surrounded by vacant sand lots. Nearby were the dunes that had drifted inward over the vast extent of unin- habited region. The pioneer days had not yet completely vanished. Gather- ings of riotous mobs in the neighboring lots often frightened the Sisters. Among the forty children that formed the first classes, there were not a few hard cases, who however in a short time were won over by the loving kind- ness of their new teachers. The Sisters from the beginning devoted their time and strength whole- heartedly to the cause of education, and animated as they were by the spirit of true religious, their sacrifices drew down God's blessing on their humble foun- dation. Their zeal is sufficiently attested by the increase in their membership as well as in the institutions under their direction. Since the motherhouse in Brooklyn could not supply members for California, a new Congregation was formed for the West, bearing the name of Congregation of the Queen of the Holy Rosary. In 1883 the erection of a new convent became imperative. A building site was accordingly secured and the first regular Convent of the Congregation

Page 13 text:

LILIUM CONVALLIUM The Rosary A garden all enclosed by sanctity Was filled by Dominic obediently With roses scented with the virtues of Our Savior's mother, to express his love. The rosary is this garden, and each prayer, A rose sent lovingly to Mary's care. We all may walk in it in joy or woe, To add to joy or lighten all our woe. In three neat parts Saint Dominic did array The roses of this garden, which portray Events of our sweet mother's life with which The life of her dear Son is intermixed. These three plots show in meditation deep First joy, then grief, and jubilation sweet. In five straight rows of ten most fragrant floW'rs Each part gives highest tribute to her powers. In Mary's garden are two kinds of rose, One lily white, the other deep red glows, The white to symbolize her purity, The red to represent her charity. We see by roaming in it without fail The beauty of the flow,rs that joy exhale, And healing powers for the wounded soul Are given out by mysteries sorrowful. A subtle, sweet perfume we surely sense When passing near the blooms that manifest The glorious life of Jesus and our queen Who left in roses grace and pow'rs unseen. -ADELINE VANDERBECK, 'z6.

Page 15 text:

LILIUM CONVALLIUM 7 was built on Guerrero Street near Twenty-fourth. It was dedicated by the Most Revered Archbishop Alcmany, O. P., under the title of the Immaculate Conception, on November 29, 1885, to be a nursery of saints , as the holy Dominican Archbishop said. This humble wooden structure, surmounted by a cross and a small belfry, remained the motherhouse of the Congregation until 1906, when the House at Mission San Jose was raised to that distinction. The first foundation to bc made was St. Joseph's Parochial School, in Port- land, Oregon, which was opened in 1888. The school was successfully con- ducted until 1918. In the following year, the Sisters took charge of the parochial school connected with the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the same city, this fact gave rise to the present St. Dominic's Convent. Here as well as ill San Francisco, a high school and a commercial school are connected with the Convent. In 1912 tl1e Sisters were invited by the Domin- ican Fathers to teach tl1e children of I-Ioly Rosary Parochial School in Portland. The first foundation of the Congregation in Southern California was made in 1899. at Anaheim, Orange County. The original St. Catherine's Academy at this place was eventually converted into a boarding school for boys. A splendid new building has just been completed there. In 1890 the Sisters took charge of the Sacred Heart Parochial School in Los Angeles. In 1907 the present high school was opened. The rapid growth of the institution has made it necessary to make several new additions to the original building, besides erecting a large brick grammar school building. The fourth of the high schools conducted by the Congregation is that con- nected With St. Elizabetlfs Parochial School, Oakland. Each one of the high schools has been accredited to the State University. The Congregation takes care of orphan girls at St. Mary of the Palms, Mission San Jose, California. Orphan boys find a home with the Sisters at the Albertinum, Ukiah, California. In addition the Sisters have charge of the following Parochial Schools: 1. St. Anthony's, San Francisco. z. St. Michael's, Los Angeles. 3. St. Gabriel's, Mission San Gabriel, California. 4. St. Ignatius, Los Angeles. 5. St. Mary,s, Fullerton, California. The Golden Year of Jubilee will be crowned by the opening of a Parochial School at Alhambra, California, dedicated to St. Theresa, the Little Flower of Jesus, and another at San Antonio, Texas. The Mothcrhouse of the Congregation at Mission San Jose stands on his- toric ground back of the old Franciscan Mission founded by Father Lasuen in 1797. The main building was erected by the sainrly Archbishop Alernany, O. P., for tl1e education of young men aspiring to the priesthood, under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas. After a few years the seminary was trans- ferred to Menlo Park. In 1891, in accordance with the wishes of his Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop Riordan, the Sisters converted St. Thomas's Seminary into a Motherhouse and Novitiate under the patronage of St. Joseph. On January 28, 1890, this branch of Dominican Sisters was definitely incorporated into the great and glorious family of St. Dominic by the late Master General of the Order, the Very Reverend P. Joseph M. Larrocco, O. P. Finally on November 25, 1922, the Reverend Foundress, Mother Pia, and her