Heritage

San Antonio, Texas

When Castroville was bypassed by the Southern Pacific railroad in 1888, the Sisters realized that San Antonio would better meet their needs for transportation to the many missions established in Texas and beyond. In 1896, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Divine Providence was moved for the last time--this time to San Antonio. Henry Elmendorf, the mayor of San Antonio at the time, donated 16 acres of land bordering on a lake in an area called Lake View. These acres were given on condition that the Congregation would spend $75,000 dollars erecting buildings within 10 years. Mother Florence accepted this challenge as she envisioned not only a new Motherhouse but also an academy for girls.

The Academy and Motherhouse
Ground was broken in August 1895, and the Academy of Our Lady of the Lake opened in September 1896. With membership in the Congregation and student enrollment growing rapidly, expansions to the building followed soon after in 1899 and 1900. By 1906 and 1907, enrollment at the Academy was so great that there was no longer room for Sisters and pupils in the one house, even after four additions to the building. The decision was made to build a separate facility for the Sisters.

By 1911 a college program was established at Our Lady of the Lake. Facilities were added to keep up with the requirements of the Congregation and the states for teacher-training. By 1920, the Sisters had saved and raised enough money to begin building the Conventual Chapel (completed in 1923). In 1924, Providence Hall was built at the college, and in 1929 St. Martin Hall was opened as a campus laboratory school. 1942 saw the establishment of the Worden School of Social Service. Other facilities have been built in the intervening years up to the recent addition of the Sueltenfuss Library.

Through the years the college—now a university—has been attended by an ever-widening range of students: at first, the Sisters of the Congregation and laywomen; later, Sisters from other congregations, religious brothers, priests, and laymen. The campus, once only 16 acres on the far western edge of San Antonio, now encompasses 72 acres. The University has reached out to include students from various ethnic and minority groups of the multicultural Southwest, low-income students, and non-traditional students.