Laying the cornerstone at St. Mary’s Convent on 35th & Center Streets
To celebrate laying the cornerstone at St. Mary’s Convent, our pioneer sisters submitted an article to the German-language newspaper, Milwaukee Herold und Seebote. It ran on page 5 under “Church News.” A translation of the story appears below:
An Uplifting Celebration
Laying the Foundation Stone of the Convent of the Sisters of the Divine Savior
As can be foreseen, the laying of the foundation stone for the Convent of the Sisters of the Divine Savior, taking place at 3:00 o’clock this afternoon, will be a magnificent celebration. Reverend A. F. Schinner, Secretary to the Archbishop and Chancellor, will hold the ceremony with the assistance of several priests.
The Catholic Associations will be in attendance or will be represented by delegates. They assemble at 1:30 at the Church of St. Michael and will march, following the music bands and under the direction of the festival organizer John Reichert, to the place of celebration at 35th and Center.
The convent, which will be three stories high, will have all modern “improvements” and will consist of a central structure with two side wings. At the same time, a nursing home will be connected with the convent, since the Sisters will dedicate themselves to serving the sick. As in the past, the Sisters will, however, also continue to serve the sick in their homes.
The first Sisters of this Order who arrived in Milwaukee on July 4th, 1895 came from their Motherhouse in Rome. Originally they lived at 562 2nd Avenue. After 18 months they moved into their present residence, 553 2nd Avenue. Since then, the Sisters have worked self-sacrificingly under the direction of their superior, Sister Raphaela Bohnheim, to assist the sick and suffering.
They deserve everyone’s support. [Literally: This fact justifies everyone’s support for the noble undertaking.]
Not long ago, another convent of this Order was established at St. Nazianz, in Manitowoc County.
Our 125 Year Celebration
As we look back on our 125th anniversary of coming to the USA, we invite you to reminisce with us. We've launched all 5 time lines with historical milestones and stories that bring to life the experiences of our sisters who came before us.
Era 1: 1895-1920
Responding to Immigrant Needs
The missionary response of hearty immigrant women religious characterizes the first 25 years of Salvatorian Sisters’ presence in the United States ...
Era 2: 1920-1950
Expanding in an “American” Church
By 1920, life for a Salvatorian Sister in the USA was radically different than it had been 25 years earlier. World War I ....
Era 3: 1950-1970
Embracing Renewal
Bob Dylan’s 1964 classic, The Times They Are A Changing, captures the high energy of this era. Change was afoot both outside and inside the Salvatorian convent walls...
Era 4: 1970-2000
Building Collaboration
Events of the mid-1960s renewed the collaborative energy that had always characterized Salvatorian life. Cloistered living ...
Era 5: 2000-2020
Searching for New Footing in a Changing World
When the new millennium arrived on January 1, 2000, Salvatorian Sisters were already five years into our second century on USA soil. Our ...