THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE BEGINNINGS

One group of pilgrims chose to go to the original site.  Fr. Wilson, OP issued a plea for women to come forward to collaborate with the Dominican friars in preaching the gospel.  This was in keeping with the tradition established by St. Dominic.  Their primary work would be to teach the children of the early settlers.   Thus the first foundation of Dominican Sisters in the United States began in Kentucky in 1822 when nine young women answered the impassioned plea of Samuel Thomas Wilson, OP.  On April 7, 1822 four of the women received the habit of Saint Dominic: Mariah Sansbury, who would be named Sr.Angela,  Mary Carrico, who would be named Sr. Margaret;  Severly Tarleton and Judith McMan.  Once the women responded to Fr. Wilson's appeal, they lost no time in getting started.  Their hearts were ready but they needed a place to live and no resources to purchase nor build.  On St. Rose Farm there was a small log cabin.  The friars loaned it to them and they got started with zeal and great energy to make it livable.  There is no doubt that these very early days were hard but they were determined to make it.  Finally the nine women settled into this first convent and it was named Bethany.( In Sacred Scripture, Bethany is the name of the town where Lazarus, Martha and Mary lived.)

We have no pictures of the original but with the eyes of the heart and a bit of poetic license, we envision it as quite lovely and sure