Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

"The Church from the beginning of the Order has called Dominicans to teach the Word of God and to emulate the Lord alone in seeking the good of souls. St. Dominic wished his followers to speak always to God or of God. By our profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, we seek a life hidden with Christ in God, who first loved us. Out of this dedication comes our love of the world for its salvation and the upbuilding of the Church. Our work of Christian education gives life and direction to the consecration we make. By our consecrated life we teach the way to holiness and joy."
-Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia

In 1988, Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein purchased the Auburndale School from Mary Alice and Stanley Smith in order to establish St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. Archbishop Buechlein knew that the new school would be in need of religious teaching sisters to help make the transition from non-religious to Catholic education. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, who first came to the Memphis area in 1899, were once again invited to help establish a Catholic school in West Tennessee. We have been blessed with 27 sisters over the past 34 years, who have served SBA as administrators, teachers, and student teachers. Our sisters have instilled our community with role models of faith, pillars of wisdom, and companions in mercy.