Book Description

Seed and Growth by Sister Mary Thomas Lillis is the simple and courageous story of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose from the foundation of their religious congregation in San Francisco, California, in 1876, to its outreach to both Germany and Mexico. Rooted in the late19th century and extending to the beginning of Vatican II (1962), the book gives a feel for religious life over this expanse of time and chronicles the difficulties of establishing foundations for the service of the poor, the young and the vulnerable. Following in the spirit of St. Dominic, three young women (the oldest was 24) traveled by train from Brooklyn, New York, to San Francisco, to work among the German immigrants. Meeting financial difficulties and opposition from several clergy with unparalled trust, the young founder Mother Maria Pia Backes started schools and orphanages in northern and southern California and Oregon. While the desire of this small band of sisters was to stay connected to their original foundation in Amityville, New York, the distance, given travel and communication at the time, proved too difficult. Over time the Congregation's outreach would extend to large and small cities in California, Oregon, Texas, Mexico, and Germany, never without challenges. The book gives insight into the lives of the sisters in the early days as they did their own weaving and sewing, printing and farming, making of olive oil and harvesting of honey. The community would be enriched by artists in the making of church vestments and sculptures, masters of Gregorian chant, and scholars. The book also shows the sisters' dedication to education. And all of this was done against the background of a rich liturgical and private prayer life and a strong sense of community. The book is a strong testament to Mother Pia's legacy to this young congregation, a legacy that included the gift of daily praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church's official prayer., and papal approbation. Another part of it is summed up so well in her often quoted words that filled all that she did: "God alone."