Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters officially began a year-long celebration of their 100th anniversary with a series of events starting on Tuesday, August 4, 2021.
The community of women religious, also known as the Victory Noll Sisters, were established in Chicago by Father John Joseph Sigstein. He sent the first two Sisters, Marie Benes and Julia Doyle, on their initial mission assignment to Santa Fe, N.M. They arrived there on August 5, 1922, establishing the traditional date for the inception of the congregation.
With the assistance of Archbishop John Francis Noll, the OLVM Motherhouse was built in Huntington, opening in 1925. From that base Sisters were missioned across the United States and Bolivia. Since their beginning, the Victory Noll Sisters have been dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel, fostering justice, standing in solidarity to marginalized people living in poverty and oppression, and promoting the development of leaders.
To open the year of celebration, an evening prayer service was held Wednesday, August 4, in the Archbishop Noll Memorial Chapel. On Thursday, a special Jubilee Mass was celebrated with current Bishop Kevin Rhoades presiding.
On Friday, Huntington Mayor Richard Strick signed a proclamation recognizing the Victory Noll Sisters and their work, and inviting the Huntington community to join in the celebration of the Centennial year.