We are excited to introduce our new feature, Legacy Leads the Way. Throughout the 22-23 school year, as Visitation celebrates our 150th anniversary, we will share Visitation stories and tidbits and how they have helped shape who we are today. Have a story idea? Please contact Cecilia Petschel, Director of Communications, at cpetschel@vischool.org or 651-683-1748.

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Legacy Leads the Way: Animals in the Monastery

The Peacocks were not the only animals to call the Visitation Monastery home. When the Sisters moved to Mendota Heights in 1966 to these expansive grounds, many of the Sisters desired to bring more of God’s creatures into their care. Peacocks arrived in 1972, but before that, the Sisters’ tried their hand at caring for chickens and goats as well. The native wildlife made their existence on the vast Monastery grounds very difficult to sustain. The pond was also home to many duck families that often found their way to the Monastery to find treats in nature and from the Sisters. At some unknown point, wild turkeys have also taken up residence in the Sisters’ backyard and seem to be very comfortable there. But the type of animal that stood the test of time has been dogs.   

Dating back to the days of the Robert Street campus, the Sisters have been caregivers to many dogs! Lassie, a collie, was at home with the Sisters sometime between 1890s and 1910s.  In the early 1960s, Martin the dog, a St. Bernard, arrived as a gift to the Sisters and was an answer to a prayer, according to Sister Mary Regina McCabe. He made the move with the Sisters to Mendota Heights. He was known to greet the maintenance professional Rod Vik, and even some unsuspecting students, every morning and led the way into the building. Martin was followed by another St. Bernard, Benjamin, who was the apple of Sister Mary Angela Diffley’s eye. Then a succession of other dogs starting with “Con Seamus Rafferty” an Irish Terrier followed to the delight of Sisters Bernadette Poor and Brigid Marie Keefe, their primary care providers. 

When Seamus arrived in 1984, the Sisters wrote, “Friendship... more like love at first sight...with the arrival of a new dog. For many years we have entertained you with stories of our huge, lopping St. Bernards. Now try to picture us adjusting to the presence of a playful, roguish little Irish Terrier… Dog and community are doing fine.” 

As part of our Legacy Leads the Way, we will periodically spotlight a story from our archives. Colleen Hansen, Mendota Heights Visitation Archivist, has enjoyed collecting, preserving and sharing all things Visitation since 2019.