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Upon their arrival in Pittsburgh, the Sisters lived in the East Liberty area, first at the St. Joseph Motherhouse on Larimer Avenue , and then at the Mount Immaculate Motherhouse on Lincoln Avenue , adjacent to St. Walburga Church. The St. Joseph Motherhouse has been razed and in its place, on the busy corner of Penn Circle and Larimer Avenue in East Liberty , stands the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ. Mount Immaculate , or "the Mount," as it is fondly remembered by some of the older sisters, was also razed a number of years ago.
In the mid 1920s, the Community outgrew the Mount, and the Sisters began to look for a site on which to build a new motherhouse. They settled on a piece of farm land in Allison Park, and construction began. In 1927, the present Pittsburgh motherhouse, Providence Heights , was dedicated. At last, their motherhouse was large enough to accommodate the more than 500 Sisters who gathered for Community meetings, retreats and assemblies. The Jackson farm sprawled out on the north side of Providence Heights (where UPMC Passavant is now located). Cows grazed on the farmland, and from Ketteler Hall down to the creek in back, there were rows of sweet and field corn. Along the Station Walk in back of the property grew black walnut trees, currant bushes, and trees filled with plump, sweet white cherries. There were also yellow and red plum trees. The barn, which is now a garage for the lawn equipment, was filled with chickens and pigs. On the present site of the La Roche College East Campus, from Wright Library to the Kerr Fitness and Sports Center and on to the ball field in back, there were apple orchards. Many Sisters remember their days as novices when they picked the fruit, filling their aprons until they overflowed. The Sisters did much of the farm work and canned their food, storing it in the basement canning room. In the late 60s, La Roche College purchased a parcel of the original property to expand its campus. Today, the Sisters maintain several buildings and 16 acres of property that is meticulously groomed and nurtured in accordance with the natural beauty and regeneration of the environment. The Sisters welcome visitors and neighbors to visit, walk, rest and enjoy the beauty of their grounds whenever they need a place of respite. Many Faces of Ministry
The Sisters are present to those in need through a variety of ministries. They began their active ministry as teachers and nurses. From the earliest days, the Sisters operated hospitals and schools with all of their energy. Beginning with St. Joseph 's School in East Liberty , the Sisters took on one school after another, educating thousands of children. Today, the Sisters maintain an active teaching ministry, which includes the Providence Heights Alpha School and La Roche College, which was founded by the Congregation in 1963 as well as the Sacred Heart Schools in Kingston . In addition, many Sisters teach in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges in Pittsburgh , across the country, and in Puerto Rico . The Sisters were a major force in the ministry of health care in the area. In 1915, they took over administration of St. John's Hospital on the North Side of Pittsburgh, and opened a nursing school. The Sisters also administered Braddock General Hospital . The Sisters became administrators of Divine Providence Hospital on the North Side in 1955 and continued to be involved in the administration of the hospital until its sale in 1993 to the Mercy Health System.
In recent years, the Community has expanded its ministries to include pastoral care, social work, campus ministry, foster parenting, work among those who are poor, and work with peace and justice issues. The Community has recommitted itself to the ideals espoused by the founders, Bishop Emmanuel von Ketteler and Mother Marie de la Roche "to advance the cause of the oppressed." Their 1985 Provincial Chapter Documents state that they are committed "as Providence women to share in the task of co-creating a just world for the 21st Century." Today, the diverse ministries in which the Sisters are involved reflect the needs of a diverse population. They place special emphasis on helping single mothers and their children to achieve a better life.
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