Early Spiritans worked tirelessly to lay the groundwork for the future Spiritan ministry in the U.S.

As early as 1847, steps were taken by the Spiritans to open a community in the United States. Fr. Francis Libermann, the first superior general after the fusion of the Society of the Holy Ghost with the Society of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, often discussed his concern for the descendants of Africans who were enslaved in the USA.

Many requests by U.S. Bishops were made asking Spiritan assistance in ministries among Black Americans, immigrants, and in education.

After the Spiritans were expelled from Germany, the decision was made in in November 1872 to begin a province in the United States, the expulsion having presented the superior general with enough personnel at his disposal for such a start.

To prepare the way, four Spiritans sailed from France and arrived in the United States on November 23, 1872. Fr. Joseph Strub, C.S.Sp., arrived in early 1874. Bishop Michael Domenec of Pittsburgh welcomed Fr. Struband in 1874, the Spiritans began work with German immigrants at St. Mary’s parish in Sharpsburg, Pa. They were
permitted to open a school. The German province supplied the Spiritan priests and brothers. This Spiritan presence in Sharpsburg provided a solid foundation for the new province that lasts to the present day.

The Spiritans saw great potential in their ministry at St. Mary’s parish. The school established at the parish was to be a base for opening a school for young Catholic men. The institution was to be named the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost, later to be re-named Duquesne University.