Spokane Dominicans
Mother Bonaventura
Twelve Sisters came to Helena, Montana, in 1925 from Speyer, Germany, at the request of Bishop John P. Carroll. Headed by Mother Bonaventura Groh, they traveled to the unknown territory of America to “take charge of the domestic affairs at Mt. St. Charles College,” according to the bishop’s request (the college was later renamed Carroll College). In the fall of 1928, nine more Sisters came from Speyer to serve as nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital, Conrad, Montana. In 1930, the Sisters began another hospital, St. Joseph’s, in Chewelah, Washington. Missions continued to multiply and the Sisters continued to come to America from Germany, bringing God’s love and healing to those in need.
In 1945, Mother Arsenia Stalter established St. Dominic’s Convent in Spokane, Washington. By 1951, the final group of German Sisters came to America. By 1963, 69 American-born women had entered the community. The Sisters had grown to a Congregation of 120, running hospitals and schools in 12 locations across the Northwest. During this time of growth, in 1964 the Sisters built Holy Family Hospital in Spokane.
In 1965, the Sisters purchased a 11 acres next to the Spokane River and Fort Wright. By 1970, the Sisters moved into their new Motherhouse, and shortly after that, Sister Mary Helen Faire became the first American-born leader of their Congregation. There were 60 Sisters by 1979 with an average age of 58.
Under the leadership of Sr. Judith Nilles, the Sisters began to branch out into new ministries in the 1980s. Through DominiCare, the Sisters cared for elderly living in rural areas. Through Miryam’s House, the Sisters, along with four other religious congregations, provided support for women recovering from abuse, addiction, and life crisis. And, after 60 years of affiliation with the Dominican Sisters of Speyer, the Sisters broke formal ties with the German Motherhouse and became the Dominican Sisters of Spokane in 1986.
In 1995, the Congregation had 36 members and merged with the Sinsinawa Dominicans.