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History of the Dominican Sisters
in Steubenville, Ohio
The Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs have unique and historical
ties to the people of Steubenville. Their presence at the schools and
parishes of St. Peter, St. Anthony, Holy Name, Holy Rosary, Blessed Sacrament,
Central Catholic High School, and all the “daughter parishes”
that have sprung up date back more than a century.
In 1880, when Mother Frances Lilly sent seven sisters to open St. Peter’s
parish school the area was in the Diocese of Columbus. The pastor of St.
Peter’s at that time, Fr. Martin M. Hartnedy, was known locally
as “the Dean.” The sisters taught at St. Peters for 102 years
and fostered 18 vocations in the parish.
Holy Name School had its beginning in 1883 when Fr. Hartnedy purchased
five lots on the corner of Slack and South Fifth Streets and converted
an old mansion on the property into a school. For two years, two sisters
went daily from St. Peter convent to teach at Holy Name School. When the
first Holy Name church was built in 1885, Fr. Hartnedy was appointed its
first pastor. He immediately provided a convent for the five sisters assigned
to teach at Holy Name. In 1889 Fr. Hartnedy opened a high school which
eventually became Catholic Central High School. The Dominicans taught
at Holy Name for 89 years and at Central Catholic 99 years and fostered
16 vocations in the parish.
In 1924, Mother Stephanie Mohun, Major Superior at the time, offered
to then Bishop Hartley to take charge of a poor school in his Columbus
Diocese. He chose St. Anthony’s in Steubenville. The sisters served
there until 1944 without a stipend at the school. The generosity of the
parishioners has not been forgotten. Stories still remain of the sisters
finding gifts of fruit and vegetables on their doorstep regularly. The
Dominicans staffed St. Anthony school and were a presence in the parish
for 61 years.
In 1949 during Mother Bernadine’s administration, Holy Rosary School
in Steubenville and St. Joseph School in Amsterdam were opened. The Dominicans
served at St. Joseph for five years. Fr, Aloysius Berendt was pastor at
Holy Rosary when the school opened. The Sisters served for 47 years at
that parish. Blessed Sacrament School in Wintersville was opened in 1954
where the Dominicans served for 17 years.
Approximately 57 vocations to the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the
Springs came from the Steubenville area Over 175 sisters who are still
members of the Congregation have served in Steubenville parishes. In addition
approximately 225 sisters who are now deceased are listed as having served
in the Steubenville schools/
Sisters with roots in Steubenville share stories about the personal presence
of priests in the early days. For example, Bishop Hartley, while still
a parish priest, would drop in to some of the homes to “check up”
on the children who may have been hurt in sports or in trouble at school.
This concern and compassion for their people was a blessing long remembered.
Sr. Agnes Jerome McCort, who taught at Steubenville Catholic Central
High School for 35 years, was almost a legend in the area. Generations
of Steubenville natives remember this small sister who was an avid sports
fan, attending every football game played during her tenure. Sr. Agnes
Jerome died at 102 years old in November 8, 2002, and could still recall
many of her former pupils by name and speaks of their accomplishments
with proprietary fondness. |
