In the fall of 1979, Father Benno Mischke, OSC, at the urging of Bishop Rausch of the Diocese of Phoenix, began to spend the winter months in Phoenix, mainly for health reasons.  Bishop Rausch and Father Benno had been very close friends dating to the days when Father Benno had served as Crosier novice director and formation director during Bishop Rausch’s membership in the Order.

Father Benno, who had served as head of the Crosiers in the United States for twelve years, was always alert to possibilities for Crosier community and service. He took advantage of his time in Phoenix to lay the ground work for establishment of a Crosier community for those members of the Province who had reached retirement age, but still felt they could make some contribution to the Order and the Church in the priestly and religious ministries in an area that had a mild, pleasant and warm climate.

Both the Bishop and Father Benno were on the lookout for a suitable site for the establishment of a Crosier Community.  According to the specifications of the Prior Provincial and his Council four Crosiers would need to move to Phoenix to begin a community.  Father Benno soon recruited his confreres Joe Bruemmer, Fritz Mischke, and Dan Richard. All had passed the age of 70 but were willing to relocate to establish a community in Phoenix and to minister in the diocese.

Father Benno died in 1981 and Bishop Rausch a few months later. Neither men were able to witness the formal establishment of the community that would occur a few years later.

In late fall of 1983, the Diocese of Phoenix contacted the community with news of a property that might serve as a community residence.  After much discussion with Bishop O’Brien, the Crosiers chose to rent the complex on Campbell Avenue in Phoenix with a purchase option.  Pleased with the property, the Crosiers purchased it from the diocese in September of 1984.

Over the years, other Crosiers joined the community and assisted the diocese through service to its parishes and schools as well as other organizations. The Campbell property was developed adding common space, a chapel and bedrooms to house 10 Crosiers.

In 2003, the Crosier Province of Saint Odilia embarked on a strategic plan for the future called Vision 2010. In this plan for the future, there would be two Crosier Communities:  one in Onamia, Minnesota and one in Phoenix, Arizona.  With the development of the vision plan, it was apparent that the Campbell facility would not be adequate for the community and a search was begun for new property.

In the meantime Crosiers were making plans to move to Phoenix and there was need for interim residence space. The Foundation for Senior Living, a service of the Phoenix diocese, made available a 16-unit apartment building about 9-miles from the Campbell property.

In the fall of 2004, Crosiers purchased 9.5-acres of land on Baseline Road in south Phoenix. The Crosiers plan to build a complex that will provide for themselves and for laity.