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Mother Lidwina Weber
Foundress of the Community

Convent in
Las Gallinas, 1920

St. Vincent's Home for
the Poor and Aged, 1926

St. Scholastica Convent, 1939

Sister Lidwina Weber, a.k.a. Margaret Barbara (Maggie) was born on January 27, 1865 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania to John Weber and Anna Stibig. She entered St. Mary's Priory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in her late teens. Annuals show she was an active member of the community, served on the Monastic Council and was Novice Directress during the years of 1902-06. The Priory in Pittsburgh was sending out missionaries at that time. The Benedictine Fathers of St. Leo's Abbey, Florida, had requested help in opening up a convent and a school in the Isle of Pines, Cuba. Sister Lidwina Weber became ill in the early part of the 1900's and made a promise to respond to a call to be a missionary and to establish an independent community. She was denied this request by the Chapter of St. Mary's Priory, but her persistence prevailed and her request was granted under two conditions: (1) that all ecclesiastical, legal and community matters be followed, affixed with all the proper signatures; and (2) that she take along Sister Leocadia Weisbecker and Sister Josephine Watson, who wished to go with her, they were never to return to the community. Sister Ambrose, Benedictine from Elizabeth, New Jersey and Sophie Bradley, a layperson, from Jeanette Pennsylvania, joined them.On November 11, 1911, Sisters Lidwina, Leocadia and Josephine left the community and together with Sister Ambrose and Sophie Bradley arrived in Cuba on December 7, 1911. They attended Mass and had their first Cuban coffee and rolls. They immediately set to work to build the convent and school. Mother Lidwina Weber was now the foundress of this Congregation. In 1918, the Sisters withdrew from the Isle of Pines, Cuba, when a hurricane destroyed the schooland convent and the monks returned to Florida. The Sisters relocated to Texas in 1919. They began teaching in Catholic Schools in Las Gallinas and Loire, in South Texas. In 1926, the Sisters began to teach in Rockne, Texas, at St. Elizabeth's School.


THE SISTERS WERE EDUCATORS AT THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS

1913-1918	St. Joseph's Academy Isle of Pines, Cuba	1949-1967	Sacred Heart School San Antonio, TX
1919-1926	St. Luke's School Loire, TX	1959-1986	St. Benedict's School San Antonio, TX
1920-1927	St. Joseph's School Leming,TX	1965-1980	Holy Spirit School San Antonio, TX
1920-1925	St. Joseph's School Las Gallinas, TX	1966-1967	Colegio Guadalupe Mexico City, Mexico
1926-1951	Sacred Heart School Rockne,TX	1967-1987	St. Albert's Hall Boerne, TX
1927-1931	St. Mary's School Cestohowa,TX	1968-1969	Providence High School San Antonio, TX
1927-1929	St. Joseph's School Cestohowa, TX	1980-1991	Central Catholic High School San Antonio, TX
1929-1931	St. Peter's School Cestohowa, TX	1981-1983	Colegio Guadalupe Mexico City, Mexico
1932-1960	Immaculate Heart of Mary School San Antonio	1992-1985	St. Gregory's School San Antonio, TX
1933-1936	St. Joseph's School Comal, TX	1982 to present	St. John the Evangelist School San Antonio, TX
1938-1942	Sacred Heart School Rockport, TX

In the early 20's Mr. Roger McMonegal deeded property located on South Alamo Street in San Antonio to the Sisters. The motherhouse and novitiate was relocated from Las Gallinas to the South Alamo Street location. The Sisters continued to teach at schools in South Texas, and entered the health care field for the elderly when they took charge of St. Vincent's Home for the Poor and Aged in 1926. St. Benedict's Hospital and Nursing Home was opened 1950. The facility was sold in 1985, ending 59 years of health care services in San Antonio.


HEALTH FACILITIES OPERATED BY THE SISTERS

1926-1985	Began the operation and management of St. Vincent de Paul Nursing Home (St. Vincent's Home for the Poor & Aged) San Antonio, TX.
1950	Opened St. Benedict's Hospital (adjacent to St. Vincent's) San Antonio, TX.
1964	Both facilities re-named as St. Benedict's Hospital and Nursing Home plus a 100-bed addition was added to the nursing home. An intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit was added to St. Benedict's Hospital.
1977	Hospital/Nursing Home complex designated as a "Day Care" hospital.
1982	Hospital/Nursing Home changed to St. Benedict's Health Care Center
1985	St. Benedict's Health Care Center was soId, thus ending 59 years of uninterrupted health care services in San Antonio.

In 1962, the Community purchased 34 acres in Boerne, Texas. The Motherhouse was moved from San Antonio to its present location, the former Kronkosky Estate. In the mid-70's the 13 acre Kennedy Estate, was purchased providing facilities for the monastery residence, chapel and guest houses.
In 1963, St. Albert Early Learning Center was opened to respond to the growing need for childcare in the Kendall County. In February 1972, Head Start programs were added to St. Albert in Boerne and Comfort for three and four year old children.

The Omega Retreat Center was established in 1981 in order to offer a Christian retreat environment of Benedictine hospitality, stewardship, prayer and spiritual renewal. The facility is open to ecumenical groups with spiritual, religious, or social justice values. The Rainbow Senior Citizen Nutrition program was initiated on the grounds in 1982, using the Omega dining room. The gym at the Rainbow Center was later renovated to accommodate the nutrition program. Meals were served both on site and by home delivery. This program is presently being administered by the Community Center in Boerne.
The Health & Wholeness Center, began in August 1990, offers a series of activities and programs for those who are 55 and older. Currently the most popular activity is the water aerobic program conducted in the heated, junior Olympic size swimming pool. Construction of a permanent cover was completed in May 2001, making the facility usable year around.

Hilltop Treasures, a bookstore and gift shop, opened its doors in February of 1992. It has since grown to serve the community of Boerne and the surrounding Hill Country. On July 1, 1998, the Benedictine Ministries Corporation was formed to administer the Omega Retreat Center, St. Albert Early Learning Center and the Benedictine Resource Center, under one organizational umbrella.

Today the Benedictine Ministries Corp. consists of: Omega Retreat Center, Health & Wholeness Center and Hilltop Treasures Books and Gifts.