Archbishop Monahan envisioned a Catholic Social Service Agency for Regina in 1934 and made an appeal to the Sisters of St Martha of Antigonish, Nova Scotia who had expertise in health care and social work, to bring their expertise to Regina.
Several sisters were sent in 1936 by Mother Superior Ignatius, included were Sister Mary Gilbert Ernewein, Sister Maurice Brocklehurst, Mother Faustina who were to establish a hospital for single expectant mothers and a home for the women and their babies while they considered their options.
In addition, two sisters trained in social work, Sister Mary Alexandria MacKenzie and Sister Joseph Helen Mulvihill came to establish a social welfare agency. These two remarkable women, along with several lay board members established the Catholic Welfare Society on August 7, 1937.