Celebrating 100 Years in America

Sisters served in the dietary, infirmary, and domestic departments, caring for the students and Xaverian Brothers at the high school.

Sisters staffed dietary and domestic departments at the seminary. This was the first ministry within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

The Sisters established a convent in St. Henry’s Parish, where many German immigrants were settling. The Sisters provided domestic services and began their home nursing program.

The Sisters provided domestic and infirmary services for the priests.

Sisters served in the domestic department at the school.

On-site hospital services were provided for the employees and families of the Drueding Brothers Manufacturing Company. The Sisters worked as nurses, surgical assistants, laboratory and x-ray technicians, pharmacists, and cooks. In 1958, the Sisters transitioned the infirmary to a nursing home and geriatric daycare.

The Sisters provided domestic services for the newly-ordains priests.

A boarding home for women who were looking for employment. It served as the headquarters for the Catholic Women’s Union of New York, the Mission Workers of the Little Flower, and the St. Gerard Maternity Guild Apostolate. The Sisters supervised the female residents and provided nursing and domestic services.

Only 10 minutes away from St. John’s Prep School in Danvers, Mass., where Sisters were also serving, the Sisters missioned in Peabody provided domestic services to the Xaverian Brothers.

As more Sisters arrived from Germany and this ministries grew in number, the Sisters purchased a 45-acre estate in Meadowbrook, Pa. This would become the Congregation’s Motherhouse and Novitiate.

At the request of Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia, the Sisters were asked to take over the household duties and the infirmary at the Seminary.

Built on their Meadowbrook estate and named for the Congregation’s patron saint, St. Joseph Manor provides physical and spiritual care for seniors in a residential setting.

In less than two years, the demand for St. Joseph Manor was so high, the Sisters purchased a 115- acre farm with a house across the street from St. Joseph Manor to accommodate more residents.

A senior home where the Sisters provided nursing and domestic services.

As the Sisters’ home nursing work flourished, a second home nursing ministry began.

The Sisters provided domestic and nursing services for priests at the retreat house.

Fulfilling a need for a Catholic hospital in the area, the Sisters built and opened Holy Redeemer Hospital adjacent to St. Joseph Manor. The hospital fulfilled a goal the Sisters envisioned when they first came to America.

Designed to be a modern interpretation of traditional Bavarian Germany architecture, the new Motherhouse of the Congregation was constructed to house the growing number of Sisters and served as its U.S. headquarters. The Provincialate also houses the Redeemer Sisters’ Chapel.

The Sisters, with the support of the Ladies Auxiliary of Holy Redeemer Hospital, opened the thrift store primarily to serve the needs of low-income families.

Although the Sisters’ home care ministries began in 1928, it wasn’t until 1973 when the Sisters’ small home nursing practice was incorporated. Medicare certification enabled them to include services such as speech and physical therapies, social services, hospice care. 

With an increase of aging residents in the Philadelphia suburbs, the Sisters partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to build Redeemer Village, a subsidized housing complex for seniors with limited financial means.

The Sisters expanded their Visiting Nurse Agency to meet the growing needs at the New Jersey shore.

A lay ministry program which provides young adults the opportunity to serve and live in community alongside the Sisters.

The Sisters invited the expertise and leadership of the laity to assist in the oversight of their ministries. Holy Redeemer Health System was created to unify the various programs and facilities sponsored by the Sisters and to make certain that their mission remained strong.

The Drueding Infirmary was converted into residential units to be used as transitional housing for women and children experiencing homelessness. The Sisters provided a network of health, social, educational, and vocational programs to help the women achieve independence.

Championed by Sr. Mary Anne McDonagh, a food pantry was established within the Holy Redeemer Visiting Nursing Agency in Swainton to serve families and seniors on limited incomes.

Holy Redeemer Health System Board approved the acquisition of the Lafayette Retirement Community. 

Recognizing the need to provide emergency food to eligible persons, the Sisters, under the leadership of Sr. Kathryn Etchells founded the food cupboard.

The program was established for women and men who are attracted to the Redeemer Charism and Spirituality and desire association with the Sisters as a means for personal and spiritual growth.

Originally began in early 1990’s as a retirement hobby of Sr. Jacqueline Long and was restarted in 2010 by Sr. Linda Arico.

Although the Sisters had a long farming tradition dating back to their early days in Meadowbrook, their farming subsided as their ministries focused more on healthcare. Sr. Ana Dura helped the Sisters return to their farming roots with the creation of a small community garden, which has grown today to a working farm.

Founded by Sr. Linda Arico, the Gallery featured the works of local artists and provided educational opportunities. Proceeds from the Galley help support Drueding Center.