Our Story

History of The Daughters of Our Lady of The Holy Rosary

The congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was founded by Bishop Hồ Ngọc Cẩn in Vietnam in 1946. The Motherhouse was then located in the village of Trung Linh, Bui Chu in the North.

When Vietnam was divided into North and South at the 17^th parallel in 1954, many people migrated from North to South, including a good number of Sisters and administrative person. Canonically, it was necessary the to relocate the Motherhouse in the South, and with ecclesiastical approval it was so done. Chi Hoa, a surburb of Sai Gon was selected.

ROSARIAN SEED PLANTED IN A FOREIGN LAND 1967

“Here I am ” (Isaiah 6:8)

At the beginning of 1966, Monsignor Joseph Hamett of the Archdiocese Of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA proposed to Bishop Peter Maria Phai Ngoe Chi, former Ordinary of the Diocese of Bui Chu, about finding Vietnamese congregation of wome religious as a replacement for the Germa Redemptorist Sisters who were serving at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at the time. Due to a scarcity in personnel, the Redemptorist Sisters could no longer continue in this ministry.

Bishop Peter Maria Pham Ngoc Chi presented this need to Reverend Peter Vu Dinh Trac who was Acting Superior of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and to the incumbent Mother Superior M. Benedict Vu Thi Yen. The Congregation viewed the proposal as an invitation from God for the Sisters to evangelize in a new environment as well as to promote higher education for its members. Therefore, the leadership team accepted the offer to serve at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary as its first mission in the United States.

On February 19, 1967, twelve sisters bid farewell to the Motherhouse at Chi Hoa and began the joumey of faith in the footsteps of Abraham. They left their native land to follow God’s call to make their new home in a íbreign land with joy and hope for a bright future. Mother M. Benedict Yen confirmed by telling the first group of sisters: “We did not seek this. Even if we did, this opportunit) would not come. God had arranged all this for us. Thanks be to God. Go with confìdence and do Gods will. May the peace of God be with you always

On February 20, 1967, in God’s mysterious providence, 12 Holy Rosary Sisters and 5 postulants arrived in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among these sisters, some served at St.Charles Borromeo; some attended colleges in Philadelphia or New York.

Assimilation into the new setting came slowly and gradually, but eventually the unfamiliarity of everything gave way to the daily routine as the sisters adapted to the new environment. In 1970, the postulants retumed to the Motherhouse in Vietnam in preparation for their entrance into the novitiate, the next step in their íbrmation. In later years, other sisters came to join hands to serve at the seminary in Philadelphia.

Towards the end of 1974, Mother Superior M. Benedict Vu Thi Yen made a canonical visit to the sisters in the United States and was unable to retum to Vietnam because of the political situation in April 1975. Sr. M. Sacred Heart Mai Linh Lan who was studying in France accompanied Mother Benedict on this trip. As the turmoil in Vietnam worsened Mother Benedict’s presence helped the Sisters to trust more in God’s divine providence. From then on, the sisters had more courage to continue the new path that God was calling them.

Following the tumultuous events in Vietnam of April 1975, Mother Superior M. Benedict Vu Thi Yen, perceiving that retuming to Vietnam was improbable. contemplated establishing a novitiate to accept new vocations to continue the Rosarian charism in the United States. Mother M. Benedict exchanged this desire with the acting Superior in Vietnam. Mother M. Agnes Hoang Thi Lanh, and to Monsignor James Meehan, the Prefect of Religious for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. After approvals were given by both sides, this desire was sent to Rome for consideration in June 1976. On October 7, 1976, the Holy See offícially gave permission for the Sisters to establish a novitiate in the United States.

ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO PROVINCES

The Annunciation province, VietNam and The Queen of Peace, USA

On October 3, 2003, the 18th General Chapter at Chi Hoa, Saigon, restructured the congregation’s govemance by establishing two provinces: The Annuciation province Vietnam and The Queen of Peceace USA . Thus, the Queen of Peace Province was born. marking a new tuming point for the Sisters in the United States.

History of Queen of Peace province

ROSARIAN SEED PLANTED IN A FOREIGN LAND 1967

“Here I am ” (Isaiah 6:8)

At the beginning of 1966, Monsignor Joseph Hamett of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA proposed to Bishop Peter Maria Pham Ngoc Chi, former Ordinary of the Diocese of Bui Chu, about finding Vietnamese congregation of wome religious as a replacement for the Germa Redemptorist Sisters who were serving at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at the time. Due to a scarcity in personnel, the Redemptorist Sisters could no longer continue in this ministry.

Although leadership knew the decision in the 1960’s to send the sisters to minister in a foreign land with different customs and language was a daring one, the team contemplated future development of the Order and was willing to take the risk to courageously “cast out into the deep… ” (see Lk 5:4). Shortly there after, Rev. Peter Vu Dinh Trac traveled to the United States to meet with Monsignor John P. Connery, Director of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, to finalize the working details of the mission and to secure traveling visas for the sisters. Rev. Peter himself signed the contract with the Seminary on behalf of the Congregation.

God has His own plans. All the necessary paper work proceeded smoothly and more quickly than expected. For this reason, the allotted preparation time for the sisters to cultivate a working knowledge of the English language was unexpectedly cut short. On the day of departure as each sister set out for the new mission, her chief baggage was not a tangible piece of luggage but her faith, love and trust in divine providence… plus a small suitcase with a few changes of clothing, personal belongings, and three dollars for emergency expenses.

“We did not seek this. Even if we did, this opportunit) would not come. God had arranged all this for us. Thanks be to God. Go with confìdence and do Gods will. May the peace of God be with you always.”

ROSARIAN TREE IN A FOREIGN LAND

“Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8)

Phase I: Embarking on a journey of Service, discovery, and learning

On February 20, 1967, in God’s mysterious providence, 12 Holy Rosary Sisters and 5 postulants arrived in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among these sisters, some served at St. Charles Borromeo; some attended colleges in Philadelphia or New York.

Phase II: Reaching out to our brothers and sisters

After the pivotal event of April 30, 1975, God invited the Holy Rosary Sisters in the United States to reach out in service to our brothers and sisters who had come as refugees in great number to Fort Indiantown Gap Campin Pennsylvania, awaiting to be sponsored and integrated into the new life in America.

In May of 1975, the Govemor of Pennsylvania extended a personal invitation for collaboration to the Holy Rosary Sisters in assisting the Vietnamese refugees. Four sisters were assigned to this mission.

On May 20, 1975, the govemment sent a car to take the sisters to the Red Cross office. All the employees and volunteers joined hands with the us military to prepare for the inílux of Vietnamese refugees. General planning included dividing up the camp allocating spaces for living quarters, cafeterias, clinics, churches and offíces. Other sisters helped with finding sponsors, contacting church parishes and charitable organizations for medicine, clothing and other material goods that would tend to the physical and spiritual needs of the refugees. To the present day, the Holy Rosary Sisters carry on this mission of serving the Vietnamese people who have made United States their second home.

Through this event, the Holy Rosary Sisters experienced a more profound awareness of God’s providential care. In 1967 God had led a group of sisters to the United States in anticipation of welcoming and serving their fellow country men who would eventually take refuge in the United States.

Preparing the next generation for Mission

From then on the number of Sisters in the United States began to increase. In 1977, the first Novitiate was established on the campus of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Pennsylvania, the place where the Sisters were serving at the time.

Establishment of Queen of Peace Province – United States

On October 3, 2003, the 18th General Chapter at Chi Hoa, Saigon, restructured the congregation’s govemance by establishing two provinces. Thus, the Queen of Peace Province was bom. marking a new tuming point for the Sisters in the United States.

Establishing a “Transition House” for Formation in Vietnam in 2011

In July 2011, the 21 st General Chapter of the Congregation gave approval for Queen of Peace Province to open a “Transition House” for formation at 29/84/17 Doan Thi Diem Street, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, to receive new vocations. As a result, the formation program in Bangkok was transferred to Vietnam as well.

The Transition House serves as a place of instruction and formation to prepare the province’s candidates for consecrated life and mission. For future in culturation in ministry, candidates study foreign languages, culture, and theology and also take part in the apostolate in various settings such as parishes, schools and hospitals.

For 49 years of living in the United States, under the patronage of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, the Sisters have strived daily to reiterate the Province’s “Fiat” since .967. We offer to God our heart felt thanks and profound gratitude for his ibundant blessings upon our Congregation. A grace-filled chapter has ended and the next chapter of hope unfolds as the Sisters strive each day to faithfully embrace a life of love and Service to all.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth (Ps 34:2)

For

“You, o LORD, my God,

have done many wondrous deeds!

And in your plans for us

there is none to equal you.

Should I wish to declare or tell them,

To many are they to recount”. (Ps 40:6)

FMSR 2017