From the Archives

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ were founded in 1834 in Italy with the charisms of evangelization and service as their guiding principles.
 
For Oklahoma, these determined women were critical to the success of the Church in Oklahoma. Arriving in the state in 1903 from the Wichita congregation, they were educators par excellence staffing at least 22 schools throughout Oklahoma. In fact, 45 different ministries have been attended to by this community, including hospitals, parish work and serving at the bishop’s residence.  
 
Nowhere has their presence been felt more profoundly than the German community of Okarche. During their tenure, 27 young women joined the community from a town of 1,300. Among those vocations was Betty Rother who would become Sister Marita. She is the sister of Blessed Stanley Rother and typifies the influence of the Adorers.
 
In the above photo, Sister Loretta Gegan is pictured in 1967 while serving as supervisor of schools for the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa while teaching at the University of Oklahoma as well. Sister Loretta was a perfect example of the versatility of the order as she would go on to be superintendent of Catholic schools and director of Christian education and pastoral programs throughout the 1980s. She retired to the mother house in Wichita and passed from this life at age 92.