Congregation of Divine Providence
celebrates 150 years of ministry

The sisters first came to Texas in 1866 at the invitation of Bishop Claude Dubuis. With the mandate “to found everywhere rural schools for girls,” they left their motherhouse in eastern France for a new mission. Within 20 years, they opened or staffed more than 20 schools not only in Texas rural areas but also in the cities of Austin, San Antonio and Galveston. In 1896 the Sisters opened Our Lady of the Lake Academy in San Antonio that developed into Our Lady of the Lake University.

That same year, the CDP sisters began their first ministry in the Diocese of Corpus Christi with the opening of St. Mary Academy in Beeville. That school continued until 1955 when, because of fire, St. Joseph School replaced it. The Sisters withdrew from St. Joseph in 1976.

They were also the first teachers in St. Francis de Paula School (1937-1962) in San Diego and St. Joseph School (1940-49) in Alice—which is still providing educational opportunities.

In Corpus Christi the sisters ministered at the Diocesan Center for Spiritual Direction and in the Beeville Deanery where they served in the post of religious education director. They also served at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi and Spohn-Kleberg Hospital in Kingsville.

In 1930, Sister Benitia Vermeersch, CDP, founded the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence (MCDP) in Houston to respond to the needs of refugees escaping the Mexican revolution (1910-36) by providing food, shelter and religious instruction for Mexican children. The MCDPs gained autonomy as a Pontifical Congregation in 1989. Today they minister primarily in Texas, California and Kansas. 

In some communities, Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence served as pastoral ministers and religious educators: at St. Joseph in Beeville, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Corpus Christi, St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville and St. James the Apostle in Refugio.

Over the last century-and-a-half, the Sisters of Divine Providence and the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence have served and studied in more than 1,000 places in Texas, 38 other states and 14 countries. During that time they have enlarged their works to include education at all levels, health and social services, peace and justice initiatives and religious instruction in parishes and dioceses.

The CDPs first Texas school was in what is now St. Mary’s Cathedral School in the current Austin Diocese, which they founded in 1866.  Later Bishop Dubuis sent the Sisters to Castroville, where they established their motherhouse. In 1896 they moved the motherhouse to San Antonio, where they opened Our Lady of the Lake Academy that developed into the present Our Lady of the Lake University.

The 2016 celebrations began with a retreat for CDPs, MCDPs and associates and an opening Eucharistic Liturgy in January; and on February 7 the MCDPs celebrated 70 years of Rome’s Papal Approbation. During the year the sisters and associates will continue to remember the communities and dioceses where they served and studied. During April the Congregations remembered the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

A jubilee Mass commemorating the anniversary of the sisters’ landing in Galveston will take place at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Our Lady of the Lake Convent in San Antonio on Oct. 23. Other events include an exhibit featuring the sisters’ artwork and artifacts and service projects throughout the year in honor of the Church’s Year of Mercy and the ministry of the sisters and associates. Individual schools and groups are also arranging additional activities.

For more information on the celebration see the congregation’s website:  www.cdptexas.org; Facebook page www.facebook.com/CDPTexas; or Twitter Feed @cdpnuns.  
 

Students from St. Francis de Paula Catholic School in San Diego pose for photo in 1946.    Contributed photo