The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island was founded in 1916 by Bishop Henry O’Leary for works in the Diocese of Charlottetown. Later, work was undertaken in several parts of Canada and the United States, as well as, missionary work in Central America.

The Sisters of St. Martha first came to the Niagara region in 1960 to work with the Holy Cross Fathers. Soon after this they began teaching at Notre Dame College School in Welland, and remained there until 1997.