Sisters of Saint Dorothy Celebrate Centennial in U.S.

A huge banner welcomed everyone to a Celebratory Mass on Sunday, July 31, at Saint Elizabeth’s Church in Bristol, honoring the Sisters of Saint Dorothy for their 100 years of service in the United States.

Every pew was filled, and the new stained glass windows seemed to cast a yellow, ethereal light over the gathering.

The Most Rev. Louis E. Gelineau, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Providence, was the celebrant.

A painting of Saint Paula Frassinetti, the foundress of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy, seemed to look on approvingly from the altar. Her 23 nuns sat in the front rows wearing full habit or in the more contemporary white and black dress of the order – all with the symbolic cross on their chest.

During the prayerful observances during the Mass, the sisters were as solemn and pious as saints, but at other times they were like giggling schoolgirls, embracing each other and throwing kisses to the parishioners, friends and family around them. They were clearly excited and so grateful to be a part of the celebration.

During the homily, Bishop Gelineau drew on his 40 years of friendship with the Dorothean community, calling them valiant women who love their vocations and parish families.

“How blessed we are to have the Sisters of Saint Dorothy among us,” he said. “I admire and cherish the sisters as friends, and I am moved by their total dedication in bringing the people of our diocese to know their God better.”

After the service, the sisters gathered on the altar for a group photograph, a symbolic painting of the Holy Spirit suspended above them.

The Sisters of Saint Dorothy in the North American Province work in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Texas.

Spread throughout 19 countries on five continents, the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy numbers approximately 2,000 today. Their chief works are education in schools, religious instruction, retreats, mission work, and many forms of social work to help the poor and less fortunate.

According to a history of the Dorotheans in Rhode Island, in 1911 a group of sisters established themselves at Holy Rosary Parish in Providence for the purpose of ministering to the Portuguese immigrant community.

In 1939, the sisters responded to a call to service at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in East Providence, where they eventually staffed the new school.

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1924, a group of sisters began ministry among the parishioners of Saint Elizabeth Parish in Bristol. They also taught sewing and assisted the immigrants. In 1954, Saint Elizabeth’s School was opened and staffed by the sisters.  

Jesus Savior Parish in Newport built a new school in 1957, and the sisters responded to the request of the pastor to staff it.

In 1960, a beautiful property on Mount Hope Bay in Bristol was purchased by the Sisters of Saint Dorothy for a formation house.

A long-awaited dream became a reality in 1964 when the sisters opened Our Lady of Fatima High School in Warren.

Today, the sisters reside at their Provincial House, Mount St. Joseph, at 13 Monkeywrench Lane in Bristol.

A reception followed the service in the auditorium, and Sister Elizabeth Hayes was overjoyed to catch up with former students.

“I’m meeting my past pupils of the ‘60s,” she said smiling. “I worked here from 1965 through 1975. Then I had many of my same students at Our Lady of Fatima High School. I worked there until 1980. We kept up with their lives and their growing families and had wonderful class reunions.”

A parishioner of Saint Elizabeth’s Parish, Dr. Cynthia Alves said that she was the product of a Dorothean education from kindergarten through grade 12.

“I got a great education from the Sisters of Saint Dorothy,” Dr. Alves said.  

Father Jared J. Costanza has served as pastor of Saint Elizabeth’s for the past five years.

“Right now, there are two sisters, Sister Escobar and Sister Amaral, who remain active in the parish,” he said. “They are very faithful and visit most of those who are homebound. Each has a list of a hundred people that they visit whenever they can.”

He added that his parishioners are deeply indebted to the sisters.

“Everybody has a story about a sister,” he said. “Everybody has felt blessed by their ministry and gifts.”

Sister Dorothy Schwarz, Provincial Coordinator of the U.S. Province, was overwhelmed by the beauty of the service and outpouring of love for the sisters.

“It’s a moment of thanksgiving to God,” she said. “Without God’s help, none of this would have happened.”

She said that the celebration brought to mind the memory of all the sisters on whose shoulders they stood.

“It’s kind of a bittersweet thing. We rest on the shoulders of these great women,” she said with tears in her eyes. “But it’s such a beautiful thing to serve God’s people.”

Sister Schwarz has lived most of her vocation here, arriving as a junior sister in 1965 right after she made her first vows.

“How can you not love Bristol and Warren?” she said. “They are very warm and welcoming towns, where anybody can feel at home. We’re very grateful to the people of Bristol and Warren for their support and encouragement over the years. This is not something you do alone. You do it as community, in collaboration with the larger community – and that’s what makes it work.”