In 1206, twelve women were led by St. Dominic into the religious life. Members from this group became founding members of Holy Cross convent in Ratisbon, Bavaria. More than 650 years later, four nuns from the original convent ventured to the United States to minister to German immigrants and established the Holy Cross convent in New York. In the years that followed, sisters from the convent answered calls for service across the growing nation.

Twelve U.S. congregations, including the Dominicans Sisters ~ Grand Rapids, trace their roots to these humble beginnings. The Ratisbon Family Tree, prepared by the Holy Cross Nuns in 1903, details this growth.