175 Years of Light: A Legacy of Courage, Compassion, and Community

Celebrating the Dodransbicentennial of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael

In 2025, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael celebrate a luminous milestone: 175 years since their founding by Mother Mary Goemaere. This Dodransbicentennial, a quarter-century short of 200 years, is far more than a marker in time. It is a testament to an intrepid spirit, a steadfast mission, and a resilient response to the world’s needs—past, present, and future.

Born in the Fires of Change

From their earliest beginnings, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have been agents of change. In 1850, California had just become a state. It was a land of extremes: hope and hardship, promise and poverty, fortune-seekers and forgotten communities. Into this crucible stepped a Belgian nun, Sr. Mary of the Cross Goemaere, who traveled across the Atlantic and then across the Americas with Bishop Joseph Alemany, OP and Fr. Sadoc Vilarrosa, OP. They endured 32 days on a ship and 40 days on steamers and mules across Panama to answer a calling: to educate and serve in a rugged, multicultural, rapidly evolving land.

Landing first in San Francisco, and then traveling to the Spanish-speaking town of Monterey, Mother Mary opened a school for girls and formed the first community of Sisters in California—a diverse group of two Californios and two Americans. By 1854, they moved to Benicia and later to San Rafael, where they built what would become a thriving center for Catholic education and spiritual life.

Meeting the Moment, Era by Era

As the decades unfolded, the Sisters continuously read the signs of the times, adapting their ministries to meet evolving needs. In the early 20th century, under the visionary leadership of Mother Louis O’Donnell, they expanded into health care, staffing hospitals in Stockton and Reno. By 1890, they had established Dominican College of San Rafael, a beacon of education for women at a time when few opportunities existed, especially as they quickly evolved to add an undergraduate program.

Whether facing the Great Depression, world wars, civil rights struggles, or today’s public health and climate challenges, the Sisters have held fast to their mission. They have stood on the front lines—teaching, healing, praying, and advocating. Always preaching truth, love, and justice.

A Torch Shared, A Light that Endures

As the community grows smaller in number, its flame burns no less brightly. In fact, the Sisters are more committed than ever to ensuring that their charism lives on through their ministries, partnerships, and lay collaborators. Their legacy is not merely historical—it is alive and unfolding. Today, the Sisters continue to serve in education, spiritual direction, health care advocacy, and social justice. They are active in immigration support, ecological sustainability, anti-racism efforts, and elder care. Through Dominican University of California, parish outreach, and countless local organizations, they continue to share their torch with a world in need of light.

As Sr. Barbara Green, OP, a biblical scholar and member of the Congregation’s leadership team, puts it: “We are not simply commemorating what was—we are igniting what will be.”

Looking Forward with Faith

The 175th anniversary year invites reflection and celebration—and calls for action. Through storytelling, service, and a recommitment to mission, the Sisters are using this milestone as a launchpad for the future. The flame kindled by St. Dominic more than 800 years ago, brought to California by a courageous woman and nurtured through generations of faithful Sisters, now shines in new hearts and hands.

As they have for 175 years, the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael will continue to bring the gospel to bear on the critical issues of our time. They will continue to be preachers of truth, love, and justice. And they will continue to light the way for others—preaching hope for the future.