Sisters of the Divine Compassion
Encyclopedia
The Sisters of the Divine Compassion are a Roman Catholic religious order founded in New York City
in 1886 by Mother Mary Veronica – formerly Mary Dannat Starr – Msgr. Thomas Preston and a group of young women moved by the "Compassion of God" in their lives and a desire to bring that compassion to New York City’s destitute children in real and tangible ways.
The congregation began as many others of the time: women gathered together to "do something" about the plight of the children of New York’s poor. For Starr and her companions it was through their Association for Befriending Children and Young Girls. The group provided shelter, training and religious education to girls left to fend for themselves or sent by their families into the street to beg. Most importantly, the women provided safety, love and hope.
Over time Starr and Preston recognized that the future of their work depended on the stability of the organization that provided it, and so the Sisters of the Divine Ccompassion came into being. Starr became Mother Mary Veronica. The first ministry of the congregation was at the House of the Holy Family at 136 Second Avenue
in Manhattan
. By the 1890s, the Sisters were also in charge of the Association for Befriending Children and Young Girls at the Second Avenue address and the House of Our Lady for Business Girls at 52-54 East 126th Street in Manhattan.
By the late 1890s, the Congregation and its ministry to children and young women were flourishing. At the same time, the area around Second Avenue was becoming increasingly commercialized and less conducive to their work. With the advent of commuter rail travel and widespread use of the telephone the "country" was becoming the "suburbs", and Mother Veronica decided on an expansive property and estate in White Plains, New York
, in Westchester County
, for a novitiate and relocation of the ministry, creating the Good Counsel Training School for Young Girls and the Vacation House for Working Girls there. From 1894 to 1925, the historic home Mapleton
housed the convent
.
In the 1920s the Sisters of the Divine Compassion were invited to staff seven parish schools and at the same time were developing and solidifying a private high school, Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel
, and a women’s college, Good Counsel College. Over the years, the congregation opened a second high school, Preston High School, this time in the Bronx
, and served as educators in over 25 parishes in Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, and Putnam
counties. In 1972, Good Counsel College became the College of White Plains, which was merged with Pace University
in 1976.
The Sisters of the Divine Compassion today are a vibrant religious community of vowed members, lay associates and partners committed "to proclaim and witness by our lives and service the Compassionate Presence of God in our world."
The Good Counsel Complex
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1997.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1886 by Mother Mary Veronica – formerly Mary Dannat Starr – Msgr. Thomas Preston and a group of young women moved by the "Compassion of God" in their lives and a desire to bring that compassion to New York City’s destitute children in real and tangible ways.
The congregation began as many others of the time: women gathered together to "do something" about the plight of the children of New York’s poor. For Starr and her companions it was through their Association for Befriending Children and Young Girls. The group provided shelter, training and religious education to girls left to fend for themselves or sent by their families into the street to beg. Most importantly, the women provided safety, love and hope.
Over time Starr and Preston recognized that the future of their work depended on the stability of the organization that provided it, and so the Sisters of the Divine Ccompassion came into being. Starr became Mother Mary Veronica. The first ministry of the congregation was at the House of the Holy Family at 136 Second Avenue
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. By the 1890s, the Sisters were also in charge of the Association for Befriending Children and Young Girls at the Second Avenue address and the House of Our Lady for Business Girls at 52-54 East 126th Street in Manhattan.
By the late 1890s, the Congregation and its ministry to children and young women were flourishing. At the same time, the area around Second Avenue was becoming increasingly commercialized and less conducive to their work. With the advent of commuter rail travel and widespread use of the telephone the "country" was becoming the "suburbs", and Mother Veronica decided on an expansive property and estate in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, for a novitiate and relocation of the ministry, creating the Good Counsel Training School for Young Girls and the Vacation House for Working Girls there. From 1894 to 1925, the historic home Mapleton
Mapleton (White Plains, New York)
Mapleton, also known as Alumnae House, College of White Plains, is a historic home located at White Plains, Westchester County, New York. It was built in 1867 and is a large, -story five-bay residence with Second Empire and Italianate-style design details. It features a large verandah, a central...
housed the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
.
In the 1920s the Sisters of the Divine Compassion were invited to staff seven parish schools and at the same time were developing and solidifying a private high school, Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Academy of Our Lady of Good Counsel is an all-girls, private, Roman Catholic high school in White Plains, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York....
, and a women’s college, Good Counsel College. Over the years, the congregation opened a second high school, Preston High School, this time in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, and served as educators in over 25 parishes in Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, and Putnam
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
counties. In 1972, Good Counsel College became the College of White Plains, which was merged with Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
in 1976.
The Sisters of the Divine Compassion today are a vibrant religious community of vowed members, lay associates and partners committed "to proclaim and witness by our lives and service the Compassionate Presence of God in our world."
The Good Counsel Complex
Good Counsel Complex
Good Counsel Complex, also known as Convent of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, is a national historic district located at White Plains, Westchester County, New York. The district consists of 10 contributing buildings, including the separately listed Mapleton...
was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1997.