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 Miles and Amanda O’Connor and Archbishop Riordan, four Sisters were named for the new mission in San Jose, California: Sister Severina Brandel; Aloysia Bowling, Benedicta Tierney and Mary Oberdrifter.

Arrival & Early Days

Our story as Daughters of Charity in San Jose began on May 1st of 1889 when the four Sisters arrived in San Joseand established the new hospital, San Jose Sanitarium & Home. It was an infirmary for the sick and a home for the elderly. Seventeen years after the opening of the hospital, this building was severly damaged in the 1906 earthquake, but soon after rebuilt.  

Letters

Sister Severina Brandel as Sister Servant (Sister-in-charge) of San Jose Sanitarium & Home wrote letters to Mother Marianna Flynn to inform her about the affairs of the hospital; five of her letters has survived (1891 to 1999). From the Sisters’ Letters, we have come to know our first Sisters and their story in San Jose. We have a glimpse of how the Sisters lived and worked in this city during their years there. This is a wonderfully rich story filled with adventure, struggles and service.

Pioneer Sisters

On May 1st of 1889, four Sisters established the new mission in San Jose, California:

Sister Severina Brandel (age 59) was the Sister Servant of San Jose Sanitarium & Home from the beginning until 1894 when she left for her new mission in the East.

Sister Aloysia Bowling, (age 41) served in the hospital for eighteen years until she left for her new mission in the East

Sister Benedicta Tierney (age 36) served in the hospital from the beginning until her untimely death in 1891.

Sister Mary Oberdrifter (age 49) served in the hospital from the beginning until 1895 when she left for her new mission in the East

Over the Years

Over the years, this original establishment was housed at two different locations: Race & San Carlos Streets and Forest Avenue. And it was known by three different names: San Jose Sanitarium & Home, O’Connor Sanitarium and O’Connor Hospital. Daughters of Charity served in this hospital for one hundred twenty-six years, 1889-2015. The hospital continues today as O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, part of the Santa Clara County health system.