The first Monastery devoted to the Perpetual Rosary was founded in Calais in 1880.  On December 21, 1891, a group of nuns arrived in West Hoboken, New Jersey, now called Union City, to found the first monastery dedicated to the recitation of the Perpetual Rosary in the United States.  In 1899, Union City made a new foundation in Catonsville, Maryland.  Catonsville founded the Monastery of the Mother of God in West Springfield.

Our foundress, Mother Mary Hyacinth of Jesus, was born in New York City on January 21, 1893.  She was Sarah Agnes Fitzgerald, one of six children.  Sarah entered the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary in Union City, New Jersey, at the age of fifteen.  She was received as a postulant on the Feast of the Birth of Mary, September 8, 1908.  Exactly a year later, Sarah was clothed in the Dominican habit and received the name, Sister Mary Hyacinth of Jesus.  Nine years later, on June 21, 1918, she was sent to the monastery in Catonsville, Maryland to be novice mistress.  Because the exercises and prayers were in French, Sister Mary Hyacinth was needed for the English speaking girls who were pursuing their vocation.  Eventually they knew that they needed an English speaking foundation.

1922

    On September 8, 1922, Mother Mary of the Crown came to Springfield, Massachusetts, accompanied by Sister Mary Hyacinth.  They petitioned the Ordinary of the diocese, Most Reverend Thomas Mary O'Leary, to accept them in his diocese.  He responded, "Come, come to Springfield in the name of God and Mary.  This will be our gift to Our Lady on the feast of her birth."  Bishop O'Leary appointed Sister Mary Hyacinth as the prioress of the new community.  Mother Mary of the Crown later returned to Catonsville.

    On October 22nd, in a torrential rain, five sisters joined Mother Mary Hyacinth.  They were Mother Mary Magdalen Kinsella, Sister Mary Lucie of the Infant Jesus Nightingale, Sister Mary Hyacinth of the Blessed Sacrament Coughlin, Sister Mary of the Assumption Doyle, Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Morris, and Sister Hazel Shaw, a postulant, who would later become Sister Mary of the Rosary.  They were received with great charity at the House of the Good Shepherd where Mother Mary Hyacinth awaited their arrival with hope and joy in this new venture.  During the weeks that followed Mother Mary Hyacinth made preparations for the new foundation and after much searching they found a house at 80 Ingersoll Grove in Springfield.  The Community of the Good Shepherd Sisters and Mother Mary of the Divine Heart are gratefully remembered in prayer as the benefactors who helped bridge the transition from Catonsville to Springfield.

    On November 9, 1922, the day which the entire Order celebrated the festival of all its saints, the Monastery of the Mother of God became a reality.  The sisters took up their residence at Ingersoll Grove and their first official act was the singing of Vespers in praise of God and His holy Mother.  Although this had to be without accompaniment, there was nothing lacking in their zeal or fervor.  Two days before Christmas every preparation for the cloistered monastery was completed.  The chapel, though simply decorated, was very devotional.  On Christmas Eve, the Blessed Sacrament was brought to this tiny chapel and Most Reverend Thomas Mary O'Leary offered the first Mass.  From this point on, the priests from the cathedral took turns in offering daily Mass for the nuns.

1922 -1923

    The winter of 1922-1923 was an unusually severe one and it was particularly difficult for the nuns who were not accustomed to New England weather, however, it was with joy that they endured the cold, privations, meager fare and separation from their original community.  With the Blessed Sacrament in their midst and Mary as their guide, peace and contentment pervaded this humble home.  It was the kindness of devoted friends and the religious in the area who provided for the nuns' material necessities which eased their hardships.  The nuns were able to contribute to their own support through art work, needle work and the making of altar breads.

1925

    Before three months had elapsed the first postulant was received. So many followed that within two years the community had outgrown its home on Ingersoll Grove.  Mother Mary Hyacinth began looking for a suitable spot where the sisters would be close to the people of the diocese and yet set apart for enclosure and in an atmosphere of silence and solitude.

    Bishop O'Leary was hesitant to give his approval since the nuns were so poor.  In that frame of mind, he embarked for Rome for his ad limina visit to the Holy Father.  The nuns continued in hope and prayer that they might purchase the estate.  The date was set for the closure of the sale and representatives of the two interested parties were at the bank.  Bishop O'Leary, who was on board ship, had a change of mind and sent a cable to Father Ahearn, instructing him to proceed with the purchase of the Nye Estate for the Dominican Nuns.  Mother Mary Hyacinth also received a copy of the telegram saying, "Buy the property."  Mrs. Nye was delighted that her lovely home would be used for so worthy a cause.  In the Sunday edition of The Springfield Union, October 4, 1925, the property was described as "142 acres in the Brush Hill section, ..with a large twenty-two room house and seven master bedrooms."  In an article in The Catholic Mirror, Michael Shea described it as "Our Mountain of Prayer and Adoration."  The community left its temporary home on Ingersoll Grove, Springfield, and moved to the Nye estate on October 23, 1925.  There were by then twelve sisters and two postulants.

1926

    The sisters again had to renovate and make this dwelling suitable for monastic life.  On September 8, 1926, a triple ceremony was arranged.  Bishop O'Leary officiated at the blessing of the bell with more than fifty priests participating.  On one side of the bell were engraved the words, Venite Adoremus, and on the other side, Ave Maria, a symbol of our double commitment: Eucharistic Adoration and the praise of the Holy Mother of God.  This bell peals every time the Divine Office is sung, calling the nuns and guests to worship.

1928

    By the end of 1928, the number of members had increased to nearly thirty.  A decree of the Sacred Congregation for Religious authorized the transition of the community from the status of Third Order to a Second Order Monastery.  Solemn Profession did not take place until August 4, 1930, which at that time was the feast of Saint Dominic.  On the night before the feast, the bells rang out to announce that the nuns were definitively espoused to Christ and His Church by solemn vows.  This was the official date of taking on the Constitutions of the Second Order, the full Divine Office, including Matins at midnight, the monastic fast, papal enclosure and solemn vows.  On September 13, 1930, a young sister, Sister Mary Reginald McKenna, the first postulant from the Diocese of Springfield, died.  She made her solemn vows on her death bed.

    On the day of her death, Mother Mary Magdalen Kinsella prayed that the new Kinsella baby, named Grace, who was born that same day, would be given Sister Mary Reginald's vocation.  Mother's prayer was answered.  Grace Kinsella grew up, entered our Order, received the name Sister Mary Saint John of the Heart of Jesus and is presently serving her third term as Prioress of our Community.

1936

    1936 brought a fearful event.  On March 18, the Connecticut River overflowed in upper Vermont and the flood waters rushed south.  People in West Springfield were alerted in the late afternoon to leave their homes before 7 PM when the flood was expected to reach our area.  Because the 1927 flood had not been as devastating as predicted, however, the warnings were not heeded.  The police had to coerce some people to evacuate.  Others were rescued in boats.  By midnight 2,000 families in West Springfield were homeless.  Schools and public buildings were opened to give people refuge.  At 9 PM, the first group of people climbed or drove up our hill.  By 3 AM, more than 200 crowded into the parlors and the caretaker's cottage.  The sisters shared their food with the victims of the flood and helped them in any way possible.  Red Cross workers traveling in boats brought food and blankets.  Meanwhile community life was carried on as usual, including the singing of Matins and Lauds at midnight as well as the recitation of the perpetual rosary.  When the danger had passed, the sisters climbed to the highest point on the property.  All they could see was water with the tops of trees and buildings rising out of it.  It took five days for the water to subside.

1940

    1940 brought a very painful experience to the community.  Our I beloved Mother and foundress, Mother Mary Hyacinth, succumbed to a long illness on December 18, 1940.  The date was significant, for at that time, it was the feast of Our Lady's Expectation to which Mother Mary Hyacinth had great devotion.   The community, however, was consoled by the election of Mother Mary Magdalen Kinsella, a co-foundress, who carried on in the Dominican spirit of love and devotion.

1947

    Father John McMahon, with Bishop O'Leary's permission, had prepared for a magnificent pontifical Mass for Labor Day, September 1^st.  A beautiful altar was erected on the monastery grounds.  Approximately 500 priests and 20,000 lay people participated in this joyous occasion.  Father Ignatius Smith, O.P. was the guest preacher.  The Catholic Mirror, August, 1947, announced the silver jubilee of the community.  Most Reverend Thomas O'Leary celebrated the solemn pontifical Mass.  The deacon for the Mass was the Reverend Joseph D. Fitzgerald, archdiocese of New York and brother of Mother Mary Hyacinth and Sister Mary of the Immaculate Conception, later known as Sister Rita Mary.

    On October 5th, a Silver Jubilee Marian Holy Hour took place on the grounds. Bishop O'Leary presided and the Very Reverend Robert J. Slavin, O.P., President of Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island, gave the meditations on the rosary. An estimated 25,000 were in attendance.

1948

    On April 27, 1948, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Suarez, Master General of the Order, came to visit the nuns in West Springfield.  We welcomed Father Suarez, along with Father Paul A. Skehan, Procurator General of the Order, and Father Timothy Sparks, assistant to the Master General for the United States.

1950

    The year 1950 was eventful with both sad and happy times.  Mother Mary Magdalen, like Mother Mary Hyacinth, had dreamed of building a new monastery in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Negotiations had been begun with Boston architects, Maginnis and Walsh, however, the death of the prioress interrupted the process.  Mother Mary Magdalen died on January 31, 1950, having served the community as mistress of novices, subprioress and prioress for nine years.  The following day, February 1^st, the news reached us that Monsignor Christopher J. Weldon of New York was to be our new bishop.  Bishop O'Leary had expired the previous October.

    On February 13, 1950, Mother Mary of the Immaculate Heart was elected prioress of the community.  By June, six of our sisters went to assist Saint Dominic's Monastery in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  The transfer was made by the Master General of the Order and by the Bishop of LaCrosse, Most Reverend John P. Treacey.

    On October 1, 1950, Rosary Sunday was celebrated with 5,500 in attendance.  The plans for a new monastery were pursued by Mother Mary of the Immaculate Heart, Mother Mary Magdalen's successor, and Mother Mary Agnes, subprioress.  At this point, Maginnis and Walsh refused the contract and the bid went to Daniel 0'Connell and Sons for a million dollars.

    Even though Bishop Weldon thought this too ambitious a project for us, Mother Mary of the Immaculate Heart remained steadfast in her confidence that this goal could be reached.  She and Mother Mary Agnes worked assiduously in planning the building.  Albert Roy, an architect from Worcester, had been to Europe and had seen many old monasteries and their plans.  His experience was helpful in erecting our monastery according to the monastic tradition.  Mother Mary of the Immaculate Heart contacted senators, businessmen and state representatives to obtain the necessary requisites for the required steel, because it was very hard to obtain just after the Korean War.

1954 -1955

    On October 3, 1954, as a tribute to the Blessed Mother during the Marian year, a Rosary Pilgrimage was arranged. From 1:00 on, groups of pilgrims in an unbroken procession prayed the Rosary at the outdoor shrines.  The gathering was estimated at 10,000 and at this wonderful event, Bishop Weldon announced that excavation for the new monastery would begin on the next day, October 4, 1954.

    Due to a mild winter in 1954-1955, the building operation was seldom interrupted.  On May 1, 1955, the cornerstone was laid with Bishop Weldon officiating. After the metal box containing the usual medals, coins, documents and names of all fund contributors had been sealed in the limestone block, it was raised to its place at the south of the chapel entrance.

1956

    On May 20, 1956, the feast of Pentecost, the blessing of the new Monastery of the Mother of God took place. After thirty-three years of love, fidelity, sacrifice and courage the building was finished except for the interior of the public chapel.  Architecturally beautiful, carefully planned and well constructed, the monastery stood in startling beauty as it does to this very day.  Due to illness, Bishop Weldon was unable to officiate.  Monsignor George S. L. Connor, Vicar General for the diocese, presided.  The partially finished chapel was blessed as well as the rooms off the courtyard in the enclosure.  The next two Sundays were set aside for Open House for all the people who were interested in viewing the monastery.  Men from the Serra Club of Springfield and the students from the College of Our Lady of the Elms guided groups of visitors throughout the monastery.  The nuns were still residing in the old monastery.

1970

    On September 26, 1970, our community was honored by a visit from the Apostolic Delegate to the United States, Archbishop Luigi Raimundi, who later became a Cardinal.  On his way to celebrate the diocese's 100^th anniversary, Bishop Weldon brought him into the enclosure of the monastery to meet all of us.

1972

    September 8, 1972, marked the golden anniversary of the foundation of our monastery.  A public celebration was held on September 10.  Bishop Christopher J. Weldon was the principal celebrant at the concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving.  Bishop Komba of Tanzania and more than seventy priests participated, including six Dominican priests.

    On the 20^th of October, 1972, the first Family Sunday Holy Hour was held for "the sanctity of the families of the world."  This year marks the 25^th anniversary of this service.

1982

    In May, 1982, the community had the unusual privilege of hosting a national meeting of Dominican Nuns.  Forty-five nuns representing all the monasteries in the country attended as delegates.  With love and laughter we made all the accommodations necessary for our guests.  The Most Reverend Vincent de Couesnongle, O.P., Master of the Order of Preachers, was in atttendance for four days.

1990

    Study programs for the nuns were initiated in the 1980's.  By 1990, a theology/philosophy program for the nuns in temporary vows was held at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.  Three years later, the same theology/philosophy program was offered to the professed sisters.  At the same time, a program for Novice Directresses is held in Washington every summer.  The West Springfield community has participated in all these programs.

Learn more about our monastery in an article by
Sheila Seiler and Anne Hamersky, "A World Within,"
Yankee (March 2001), pages 64-77.