THE DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY and HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL

• In July 1910 the Daughters of Charity established a new province in the United States in St. Louis, Missouri
• It was from St. Louis that two sisters were sent at the request of Fathers Finney and LeSage, CM to open Holy Trinity School in the fall of 1914.
• Holy Trinity was the first school opened by the DC’s of the St. Louis province. Sr. Clare Hoch was the principal and taught the primary grades. She was assisted by Sr. Mary Michael Ryan who had the older children. There were 32 students that first year.
• Sr. Mary Michael was known to bake her delicious Strawberry cake to reward the winning team in the weekly Friday baseball game.
• The two sisters lived at St. Paul Hospital, which was on Bryan Street, with other DC’s when they first arrived. They traveled to school each day in a horse drawn carriage.
• The school was a small wooden bldg that had been purchased from the Highland Park school board and moved to the 4200 block of Holland Avenue.
• The sisters later relocated from St. Paul to a house on Holland next to the school
• Sister Genevieve Tyson succeeded Sr. Clare as principal in 1917 (although Sr. Clare returned again in 1937 for another 3 yr term), and Sister Mary Michael Ryan who came originally as a teacher assumed the principal role for the 1920-21 school year.
• In the early days it was customary to change principals every three years. It wasn’t that the sister was worn out, but rather it was the custom that the role of local superior (Sister Servant is the term we use) went with being principal and the DC rules set the term of the Sister Servant at 3 years.
• It was in the 1920’s that the sisters moved into a wood frame house at 3811 Oak Lawn (the present location of the Vincentians’ residence); in 1941 that house was moved to 3822 Gilbert which is very close to where the pastoral center is today.
•  Because of increasing enrollment, a larger school was built in 1925 and located behind the sisters’ house. There were about 8 sisters working in the school by this time and several lay teachers. One of those sisters was Sr. Adelaide Curtis. Unlike the principal, sisters assigned to teach at the school often stayed much longer than three years. Sr. Adelaide taught first grade from 1925 – 1936.
• Through the years there was a constant expansion of the school facilities – major renovations took place in 1947 and again in 1956.
• In 1953 a memorable event for the Daughters was the building of a new brick residence to replace the old wood frame building that had served long and well since the 1920’s. Each sister had not only her own private room but her own bathroom as well – something unheard of at the time for the Daughters who were accustomed to living in dormitories and using common bathrooms. The story is told that when the superiors from St. Louis came to look at the plans for the new convent they were upset with the ideas of private rooms and baths for the sisters and went to see the pastor. He politely but firmly told them that it was the parish that was building the convent and it would be built the way the parish wanted. Today this building serves as the Pastoral Center and daily mass is celebrated in the Daughters chapel.
• It was under the leadership of principal Sister Rita Connolly that Holy Trinity was one of the first elementary schools in the diocese of Dallas to be accredited by the state of Texas(1963)
• The number of Daughters assigned to the school increased as enrollment demanded and there was the addition of dedicated lay staff. By the time of the school’s 50th anniversary in 1964, there were 11 Daughters of Charity and the role of the principal had become a full time one – she no longer was also one of the teachers. Seven lay teachers were on staff – some full time, others part time – and the enrollment was about 400 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
• The Daughters encouraged the development of extra-curricula activities and enjoyed moderating the Altar Boys (no girls in those days!), Children of Mary Sodality and taking their students on visits to the sick and poor. They cheered for the athletic teams and sup- ported the establishment of scouting programs for boys and girls.
• Many of the students took advantage of the after school tap, ballet and tumbling classes taught by Mrs. Georgia Babb who was associated with the school for more than 40 years.  Through the example of the students, their parents and others in the parish Mrs. Babb converted to Catholicism in the 1970’s and was later invited to become an affiliate of the Daughters of Charity because of the high degree to which she exemplified the spirituality and service of Vincent DePaul and Louise de Marillac (the co-founders of the Daughters).
• A significant support for Daughters and the school came from the Mothers Club which was established in 1935. Current parishioner, Martha Brooks, served a term as president of this organization. The club was begun by a group of mothers from the school working in concert with Sr. Loretta Tobin, principal, and Father Walter Quinn, pastor.  Their first project, which perdured for decades was the establishment of the hot lunch program. The mothers had fund raising projects throughout the years and did much to provide extra books, other learning materials and other equipment the school otherwise could not have afforded. The principals always worked very closely with the Mothers Club.
• For its first 50 years the school served predominantly students who were Caucasian, middle and upper middle class, and who lived within 6 miles of the school.  By 1978 the school was attended predominantly by minority groups (79% Hispanic, 21% African-American, Oriental, and Anglo) who came from 13 different parishes in addition to Holy Trinity, many families were from a lower socio-economic strata. Enrollment dropped to about 230 students in K-8 – the kindergarten which was started in 1947 and closed in 1971 was re-opened.
• Many of the students since the late 70’s come from families whose parents work nearby or in downtown or from parishes where the Catholic school has closed (Cathedral, Guadalupe, St. Edwards, St. Peters, etc).
• With the lack of young women entering the community, the number of Daughters in the school gradually decreased. The administration of the school was turned over to the laity in1985 with the departure of principal Sr. Mary Ann Bartkowitz.  Sisters Audrey and Augustine, DC continued teaching in the school until May 1987. The first lay principal was Patty Sherrod who taught in the school from 1977 to 1981 and was handpicked by Sister Mary Ann as her successor because of her understanding of the Vincentian spirit.
• Entwined with the lives of the students over 73 years, are the lives of the 112 Daughters of Charity who were privileged to have been assigned to Holy Trinity...some for as short as a few months and some for many, many years. Some sisters who started in the school moved into other ministries in the parish.

• Do you wonder where one of the Daughters who taught you might be today, December 2005?  Many are singing with the angels ... but some are still around, such as:

Sr. Fidelis Malloy                  Evansville, IN Ministry of Prayer

Sr. Rebecca Hite                  Evacuated from New Orleans in KATRINA; volunteering at
                                                 Providence Hospital in Waco, TX

Sr. Mary Moran                      Osaka, Japan ...has been a missionary in Japan for 50 yrs +

Sr. Mary Angelyn Pera         St. Louis, MO  Ministry of Prayer

Sr. Geraldine Simonds       Coppell, TX volunteers at St Ann Parish & St. Joseph Village

Sr. Ann Schedler                   Evansville, IN does office work in a Day Care Center

Sr. Catherine Junkin             Cleaning and overseeing repairs to a DC house in New
                                                  Orleans damaged by KATRINA

Sr. Jane Walz                         St. Louis, MO develops programs and does research on
                                                  relationship between spiritual care and physical healing

Sr. Lucretia Burns                 San Antonio, TX teaches GED classes for public school
                                                  district and also in a Correctional Facility

Sr. Loretto Gettemeier         St. Louis, MO gives talks and does retreat work especially  
                                                  around Vincentian themes; founder of TRUE FATHER 
                                                  program – helps men in their role of being a good father to
                                                  their child.

Sr. Maureen Bannister         St. Louis, MO teaches Theology and English at Cardinal Ritter
                                                  Prep

Sr. Mary Jo LaFond               Evacuated from New Orleans in KATRINA and living with
                                                  her sister in Opelousas, LA

Sr. Romana McDermott       St. Louis, MO assisting with Pastoral Care of our sisters in the
    (Joan Marie)                       Skilled Nursing facility

Sr, Edith Thompson              Emmitsburg, MD serving as a docent at the Shrine of
                                                  Elizabeth Ann Seton

Sr. Hilary(Claire) Roach       Los Altos Hills, CA Ministry of Prayer

Sr. Angelita(Anne)Bellan      Left the Daughters of Charity some years ago, but then   
                                                   worked in our hospitals in California as VP of Mission    
                                                  (helping staff know, understand and appreciate the charism
                                                   and philosophy of the Daughters of Charity). Now lives is
                                                   St. Louis, MO and works for the Catholic Health Assoc.

Sr. Mary Carol Mautemps    Evansville, IN assists with the needs of infirmed sisters

Sr. Johanno Gainey              Los Altos Hills, CA in charge of the Province Archives
    (Margaret Ann)

Sr. Rolanda Dupuy                 Left the Daughters in the 70’s; married and was teaching
    (Marguerite)                         French in a New Orleans school at the time KATRINA hit;
                                                   do not know her whereabouts at this time.

Sr. Jean Thomas Dwyer       Dallas, TX runs a Homework Assistance/Tutoring Program at
                                                   Cathedral Guadalupe and works as a Benefits Counselor at a
                                                   HUD apt. complex for low income elderly

Sr. Richardine Kauss             Has been a missionary in the Congo (Africa) for more than
    (Barbara)                              25 years

Sr. Enrica Miles                       Lives in Gould, AR and is in charge of two priestless parishes
      (Kathleen)                           – one in Star City and the other in Grady

Sr. Baptiste Basile                  Left the Daughters in the 70’s and married.  Lives in Houston
     (Mildred)                                and has been involved in Religious Education

Sr. Rosa(Marion) Purpura      Evansville, IN  Ministry of Prayer

Sr. Marguerite Gorman          Left the Daughters many years ago. She is married, lives in
      (Peggy)                                 California and works for the Girl Scouts of America

Sr. Carol Barringhaus             Left the Daughters many years ago but remained in Dallas for
                                                      a long time teaching in DISD; moved to St. Louis to care
                                                      for her mother who has since died

Sr. Joann Lukefahr                   St. Louis, MO works in the Pastoral Care at DePaul Health Ctr

Sr. Denise Duplessis              Lives in Odessa, TX and works as a Pastoral Minister in a
                                                      parish in Midland, TX

Sr. Patricia deKeersgieter       Left the Daughters in the mid 70’s

Sr. Judith Hebert                        St. Louis, MO works for the Archdiocesan School System as a
                                                      Educational Diagnostician

Sr. Josephine Jauchler            Evacuated from New Orleans in KATRINA and living in a
                                                      Skilled Nursing Facility in St. Louis

Sr. Teresa Daly                          St. Louis, MO works as the Director of the Vincentian Service
                                                      Corps (a lay volunteer program) and is the Vocation
                                                      Directress for the St. Louis Province

Sr. Kevin McCarthy                     Left the Daughters in the 70’s, married and lives in St. Louis
                (Karen)

Sr. Helen Brewer                        Austin, TX is a registered lobbyist doing legislative advocacy
                                                       in the area of healthcare

Sr. Rita Downey                          St. Louis, MO has been the Provincal Secretary for the West
                                                       Central Province for more than 10 years; volunteers in
                                                       prison ministry

Sr. Clotilda Brandt                      Left the Daughters in 70’s and lives in Iowa; has been battling
                                                       breast cancer for several years

Sr. Kathleen Murray                    Edinburg, TX works as Catholic Elementary School Principal

Sr. Mary Teresa Huber               St. Louis, MO  Ministry of Prayer

Sr.  Mary Patrice Murray              El Paso, TX works as Catholic Elementary School Principal

Sr. Rosa Lee Kramer                 Lives in Edinburg, TX on the weekends with Sr. Kathleen
                                                        Murray; lives in Rio Grande City, TX during the week and
                                                        teaches in a Catholic Elementary School

Sr. Mary Louise Happich            St. Louis, MO works as a Receptionist in our Provincial
                                                        Office Building

Sr. Audrey Bergfeld                      St. Louis, MO helps care for the needs of our senior sisters
                                                        and volunteers doing office work in the Provincal Office
                                                        Building

Sr. Mary Ann Bartkowitz               Left the Daughters in the 80’s and safely evacuated New
                                                         Orleans, LA where she was a teacher in the Orleans Parish
                                                         Prison System when KATRINA hit; has a temporary
                                                         teaching position in Perryville, MO

This history and information on the Daughters of Charity at Holy Trinity School was compiled by Sister Jean Thomas Dwyer at the request of Anthony and Sheila Madigan Levatino for the Friends of Holy Trinity School, Inc. Materials used include documents in the Archives of the Daughters of Charity, St. Louis, MO; personal recollections of some of the Daughters; and from the book Daughters of the church: A Popular History of the Daughters of Charity in the United States 1809 – 1987.