Pioneer American roots of Our Lady of the Springs

Our Lady of the Springs originated from St. Mary of the Springs in Ohio. St. Mary of the Springs and its sister, St. Catharine in Kentucky, were the first two Dominican congregations to be founded on American soil.

In 1822, missionary Dominicans in Kentucky put out an urgent call for teachers of the Catholic children. Four young women responded immediately. Under rugged conditions, these pioneers began a log house school on Cartwright Creek near Springfield, KY. The tiny school flourished and more women were attracted to the mission. Under the guidance of the friars, the group learned the Dominican way of life. And, thus, the St. Catharine Dominican Congregation was born.

In 1830, the Dominican friars desperately pleaded for sisters to teach Catholic children in Ohio. St. Catharine’s generously sent five of their sisters to work with the friars. They, too, began a successful Catholic school. However, the formidable distance of 200 miles between St. Catharine’s and St. Mary’s necessitated a separate development of the two missions. Thus, a second American foundation of Dominican sisters, St. Mary of the Springs, was born.

On April 9, 2009, St. Catharine’s and St. Mary of the Springs united with five other Dominican congregations to form a single congregation, named the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

On April 2, 2009, twenty-two Sisters from St, Mary of the Springs received permission to found a new Dominican Congregation in the Diocese of Bridgeport CT.  Bishop William E. Lori accepted the congregation which chose the name: Dominican Sisters of our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport.