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The
congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence was founded in
1851 in Germany by Wilhelm von Ketteler, Bishop of Mainz, and Stephanie
Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche. We belong to the Marie de la Roche Province, one of three provinces
(Germany, American-Caribbea, Korea) and one region (Peru) of an international community of 750 vowed members and 300 Associates.
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Wilhelm von Ketteler,
Bishop of Mainz |
Stephanie Amelia
Starkenfels de la Roche |
Bishop Ketteler was known as the "social justice bishop" because
of his tireless work in helping oppressed, unskilled German laborers
in their effort to unionize for just wages and decent working conditions.
Today, "Workers Day" is celebrated in his honor in Mainz
Stephanie Amelia Starkenfels de la Roche, a French noblewoman, was
given the title Mother Marie as the first leader of our Community.
The
Early Days
To
meet the needs of the time, six Sisters from Germany set out for
the United States in 1876 to teach the German immigrants who had
settled in the Pittsburgh area. Our Sisters traditionally ministered
as nurses, elementary and high school teachers. We administered
three hospitals and numerous schools in Pittsburgh and surrounding
localities.
Our first Provincial House was located on Larimer Avenue in the
East Liberty. In 1905, we moved a few blocks away to the Mount Immaculate Motherhouse on Lincoln Avenue. In 1927, we relocated
to the current Provincial House in a North Hills suburb of Pittsburgh. From Pittsburgh, the Sisters went forth to St. Louis, Puerto Rico and Kingston, Massachusettes to carry out the mission of Providence.
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