08/24/2026
The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael are a big part of our history here in the SF Bay Area.
⚜️✨ 250 Sisters Who Shaped the USA: Mother Mary of the Cross Goemaere, OP ✨
A courageous pioneer and foundress, Mother Mary of the Cross Goemaere, OP, answered God’s call to serve in a new land and helped lay the foundation for women religious in California. On December 6, 1850, she arrived in San Francisco after an arduous journey from France by way of New York, the Panama Isthmus and California’s coast.
In spring 1851, she settled in Monterey, where she formed California’s first congregation of women religious, the Congregation of the Most Holy Name, and opened a school. Through her faith, courage and dedication to education, Mother Mary of the Cross Goemaere helped establish a lasting Dominican presence and contributed to the growth of Catholic education in the American West.
Her journey reminds us that answering God’s call often requires great courage, perseverance and a willingness to step into the unknown. Her pioneering spirit helped open doors for generations of women religious and students who would follow. ❤️📚
Join us as we celebrate 250 Dominican Sisters whose faith, courage, service, and gifts helped shape the United States! 🇺🇸✨
