Our story as Daughters of Charity in California began when seven Sisters journeyed from Emmitsburg, Maryland to San Francisco in the summer of 1852.  The Sisters traveled by stage from Emmitsburg to New York and from there by steamer to Panama where they crossed the Isthmus by rail, boat and muleback (as the railroad was then only partially completed).  Two of the Sisters contracted cholera and died on the Isthmus.  The five surviving Sisters journeyed on by steamer and arrived in San Francisco on August 18th where they established an orphanage and school.

Request & Response

At the request of the Clergy, four Sisters were named for the new mission in Hollister, California: Sisters Aurelia Walker; Helena McGhan, Mary Vincent Collins and De Sales McNulty.

Arrival & Early Days

Our story as Daughters of Charity in Hollister began on August 5th of 1891 when the four Sisters arrived in Hollister and established School of the Sacred Heart. This was a parochial school for children in the rural community of Hollister, day school/boarding school that likely included orphans. The school was located near Sacred Heart Church and housed in a substantial building. Fifteen years after the opening of the school, this building was demolished in the 1906 earthquake, but was eventually rebuilt.

Letters

Sister Aurelia Walker as Sister Servant (Sister-in-charge) of School of the Sacred Heart wrote letters to MotherMarianna Flynn to inform her about the affairs of the school; five of her letters has survived (1891 to 1900). From the Sisters’ Letters, we have come to know our first Sisters and their story in Hollister. We have a glimpse of how the Sisters lived and worked in this rural community during their years there. This is a wonderfully rich story filled with adventure, struggles and service. It is the story of our early Sisters in Hollister, California.  

Pioneer Sisters

On August 5th of 1867, four Sisters established the new mission in Hollister, California:

     Sister Aurelia Walker (age 39) was the Sister Servant of School of the Sacred Heart from the beginning until her departure.

     Sister Helena McGhan (age 22) served in the school from the beginning until 1905 when she left for her new mission in Santa Cruz.

     Sister Mary Vincent Collins (age 44) served in the school from the beginning until 1899 when she left for her new mission in the East.

     Sister De Sales McNulty (age 33) served in the school from the beginning until 1903 when she left for her new mission in San Francisco.

Over the Years

Over the years, this original establishment was housed in two different buildings at the same location and known by only one name, School of the Sacred Heart.  Daughters of Charity served in Hollister for thirty-nine years, 1891-1930. When they withdrew, the school continued under sponsorship of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur and later the Adrian Domincan Sisters, It is now under Archdiocesan sponsorship with lay leadership.