Our History

Settlers from Minnesota – including the first women who would become Sisters – arrived at Union Station in Portland then traveled to Jordan, OR

The Sisters’ first spiritual leader – Father Werner Ruettimann, OSB – offered the first Mass in Jordan, Oregon.

Archbishop William H. Gross, CSsR, met with the Sisters, telling them: “I want you to be my Sisters and help me with my work.”

After a confrontation with the trustees of their settlement, some of the Sisters left Jordan and went to Mt. Angel, Oregon, where they were welcomed by Benedictine monks and Sisters.

Two Sisters moved from Mt. Angel to Mariazell Convent in Sublimity. Others joined them in September and October.

Five Sisters professed vows as Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. Four others were received as novices. Sister Wilhelmina (Emma Bleily) was elected the first Superior General.

Professed in 1887: Sisters Clara Hauck, Benedict Arnold, Wilhelmina Bleily, Josephine Eifert, Cecilia Boedigheimer

Novices in 1887: Sisters Gertrude Silbernagel, Aloysius Bender, Johanna Silbernagel, Rose Eifert

At St. Boniface in Sublimity, the Sisters began their ministry in education.

Archbishop Gross approved the construction of St. Mary’s Orphanage in Beaverton.

Two Sisters of the Most Precious Blood – including Mother Ludmilla – came from O’Fallon, Missouri, to guide the new group in the ways of religious life.

The ministry began in Verboort and they opened St. Mary’s Orphanage in March. In June, the Sisters moved from Sublimity to Beaverton to serve at the orphanage.

The first Motherhouse was built NW of today’s location. Archbishop William Gross dedicated the Motherhouse to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Archbishop William H. Gross, CSsR, died in Baltimore, Maryland.

Archbishop Alexander Christie succeeded William Gross. He proposed changes at the orphanage to serve only boys. Today it is known as St. Mary’s Home for Boys.

Under the leadership of Mother Theresa Heuberger, the Community adopted English – instead of German – as its official language.

The Sisters added an east wing to the Motherhouse.

St. Mary’s Academy opened as a resident school for boys and girls. Two years later, the classrooms were so crowded that attendance was limited to girls.

Mother Theresa Heuberger purchased 60 acres south of the railroad tracks for $4000. In 1930, the land home to the Sisters’ Motherhouse and campus.

Less than 20 years after their founding, the Sisters were asked to serve across Oregon. They traveled to Tillamook by train and tugboat.

Archbishop Alexander Christie asked the Sisters to change their name from Sisters of the Most Precious Blood to the Sisters of St. Mary.

The Community decided to add a west wing to the Motherhouse. St. Mary’s Academy was renamed St. Mary’s Institute.

The chapel in the new west wing of the Motherhouse was dedicated. The stained glass windows were later moved to the current Motherhouse chapel.

From 1908 through the 1920s, Sisters began teaching in urban and rural schools.

When the Spanish Flu killed millions of people around the world, Sisters Agnes and Alexia O’Rourke ministered to the needs of ill parishioners in Verboort.

Mother Juliana Hermens bought a car – although no one knew how to drive.

Due to pressure from the Ku Klux Klan, Oregon legislators passed laws threatening the future of private schools.
The “Garb Law” banned Sisters, who wore habits, from teaching in public schools.

Students at St. Mary’s Institute gathered on the lawn. The Sisters’ original grotto and cemetery appear in the background of this photo.

The Sisters received a blessing from the Pope, approving their new Community. The words “of Oregon” were added to the Community’s name.

On May 26, 1929, The Oregonian newspaper reported that the Sisters and St. Mary’s Institute would soon have a new home, built on 35 acres at a cost of $350,000.

The Sisters walked in a procession from the original St. Mary’s Institute to the land on the south side of Tualatin Valley Highway to lay the cornerstone for the new (current) Motherhouse.

Construction began – and was completed – on the new Motherhouse and school building. St. Mary’s Institute became St. Mary of the Valley.

Construction of the chapel in the new Motherhouse began in March. The chapel was dedicated in October.

Five of the SSMO Foundresses were still living during the Sisters’ Golden Jubilee. Seated (left to right): Sister Aloysius Bender, Sister Wilhelmina Bleily, and Sister Rose Eifert. Standing: Sister Cecilia Boedigheimer (left) and Sister Gertrude Silbernagel.

The Sisters celebrated their Golden Jubilee with a pageant in the Benson Polytechnic School auditorium. The pageant featured students from all the schools in which the Sisters taught.

The Sisters developed property for a campus park to be called Villa Maria. The park house in Villa Maria was built by the father of Sr. Dolores Kinch.

The east wing of the Motherhouse was completed.

The SSMO Community withdrew from ministry at St. Mary’s Home for Boys after 62 years of service.

The Community purchased a bus to bring students to St. Mary of the Valley Academy.

Sister Imelda Vandehey (left) received the first of two Papal medals for education and service to the church. Mother Colette Lorch is pictured on the right.

The Sisters extended their ministry outside of Oregon, teaching in Spokane, Washington. They later taught in Seattle.

The Sisters established Maryville Nursing Home to care for the sick and aging. Sister Joseph Terhaar was Maryville’s first administrator.

Aerial view of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon campus

The Sisters began their first foreign mission work, serving in Peru.

Construction took place for a new high school building for St. Mary of the Valley Academy.

During Thanksgiving weekend, teachers and students completed the move to the new building, which became known as St. Mary of the Valley High School.

The relocation of the SSMO Cemetery from the former Motherhouse property to its present location was completed.

Boys were admitted to the elementary school for the first time since 1905.

As the Sisters celebrated their 100th anniversary, they were honored during a liturgy at the University of Portland.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the SSMO Community, “These Valiant Women” was published to share their history.

The Sisters founded Bethany Center to provide opportunities for spiritual growth and lifelong learning.

A new Associate Program was formally approved by the Sisters. The first Associate Covenant ceremony was held in 1991.

Little Flower Development Center (now known as Valley Catholic Early Learning School) opened. In the fall, the high school became co-educational. Its name was changed to Valley Catholic High School.

St. Mary’s Drive was added to the campus in preparation for the St. John Vianney Residence for retired clergy.

Former Superior General Sr. Fidelis Kreutzer and Maryville Administrator Sr. Theresa Margaret Yettick received papal medals for their contributions to the Catholic Church.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation was established.

The Sisters celebrated the 100th anniversary of their campus school.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) Ministries Corporation was established. Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen was named its first president.

The new Athletic Center and all-weather track were dedicated at Valley Catholic High School.

All levels of education on the campus (infancy through grade 12) were united as Valley Catholic School.

Construction began on a new K-8 school building with completion scheduled for mid-2011.

The Sisters were honored for 125 years of ministry and service.

Signature events of the Sisters’ 125th-anniversary celebration included an open house, Mass, and the inaugural year of Soup’s On, an event to raise funds to fight hunger.

Valley Catholic High School won the first of four consecutive Oregonian Cups for overall excellence in academics, activities, and athletics.

The Valley Catholic Elementary/Middle School building opened. K-5 students moved out of the west wing of the SSMO Motherhouse.

The Maryville Memory Care unit opened.

Sr. Krista von Borstel, executive director of CYO/Camp Howard, received the papal medal for distinguished service to the church.

Maryville celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Valley Catholic added a turf field, a grandstand with a press box, and a field house.

Maryville celebrated the opening of its therapy courtyard and south unit.

The Valley Catholic science building opened, featuring state-of-the-art labs and a greenhouse.

The Sisters and the SSMO Ministries Corporation created a wayfinding plan for new signage on the SSMO campus.

Valley Catholic Middle School held its 50th speech tournament.

Valley Catholic Middle School received STEM accreditation in December 2018 – the first Middle School on the West Coast to earn this accreditation.

In September 2019, Valley Catholic High School received its sixth OSAA Cup for excellence in academics, activities and athletics.

With the help of generous benefactors, the Sisters remodeled their kitchen in 2019.
An Open House was held in February 2020.

A once-in-a-century global pandemic affected the campus. Mask-wearing, digital learning, social distancing and working from home became the norm in 2020 and each surge brought new guidelines and protocols.

A new SSMO Leadership Team was installed in June of 2020.

The entire SSMO Campus community came together to send funds and needed tools to fight fires in the Santiam Canyon.