From the Mother’s Desk

Our apologies to those of our readers who are accustomed to receiving quarterly copies of the Messenger. The relocation plans for the Sisters have been so complex and time-consuming that we simply could not keep up with publishing deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Move

American families have become accustomed to employers moving their workers around the country frequently. Religious communities feel the same stresses and strains as other families when preparing for a major uprooting and replanting. We just don’t do it as frequently. Mother Harriet established the Motherhouse in Peekskill in 1872 as a quiet rural setting in which novices could be trained in the religious life and aging sisters could be cared for in peace during their last years. The school in Peekskill was started soon after.

Today the Sisters are taking the same steps to reset our priorities. Peekskill has grown into a bustling community of suburban commuters to New York City, and we are once again planning a move to a rural area upstate to reestablish that same vision of a quiet setting for the training of novices and the care of aging Sisters. Like Mother Harriet, we know this cannot be done in a vacuum. Daily family life will be set apart, but the Sisters will also be involved in the program of the Diocese of Albany’s Spiritual Life Center, following Bishop Herzog‘s vision of disciples making disciples. Our Associates, active retreatants, and friends will be equally welcome at the new Convent and Spiritual Life Center as they are here now in Peekskill.

Where are the Sisters moving to?

Some of you may remember the excitement of our Advent 2000 Messenger announcing our moving plans to Saratoga Springs. As those with real estate experience know, a contract is never binding until it is signed and contingencies met. By May 2002 the cost projections for building in Saratoga were much too high. As a result, the Diocese and Sisters continued searching for a site through last summer. The Diocese of Albany has now bought a 630-acre farm in the Greenwich (pronounced "Green-wich")/Easton area, an hour north of Albany and a half-hour east of Saratoga Springs. The new property is a mix of rolling pastures, miles of cattle fences, wooded hills, brooks, ponds and a 30-acre extant lake for small boating. The Sisters are in the process of purchasing approximately 100 acres of the 630 acres from the Diocese for the building of their convent, just across a spring-fed brook from the Diocesan operations.

When do we plan to move from Peekskill?

The short answer is “We don’t know yet.” Unfortunately, a neighboring Peekskill property owner, Enclave Development, has sued the Sisters to obtain an easement over convent lands. Our lawyers are defending vigorously, but the case will delay the closing of the sale and our ability to move.

What will happen to the religious art in the buildings at Peekskill?

Last April we commissioned Walter Sedovic, Architects, to do a cost/value study for salvaging some our ecclesiastical art fixtures such as Sr. Mary Veronica’s paintings in St. Scholastica’s Chapel and the stained glass windows in St. Mary’s Chapel. We received his report in July, and the Council has had ongoing discussions about what we want to take with us, what we can afford to move, and what we should sell. Our current plans are to remove the Marian Shrine, Stations of the Cross, possibly the Rood Screen, and, the Incarnation and Archangel windows from St. Mary’s Chapel for incorporation into new Chapels, both in the Convent and at the Spiritual Life Center. Unfortunately, the removal of the murals in St. Scholastica’s Chapel was estimated at over $250,000, and we cannot afford to do that. We are also wrestling with the estimated expense of renovating and moving the Roosevelt tracker organ. We hope to use Sr. Mary Veronica’s reredos in a new side chapel.

What will happen to the cemetery?

Much prayer was invested into the disposition of the Cemetery. New York State law protects cemeteries so that the land can never be used for any other purpose. We have a perpetual access easement to the cemetery for visitations and maintenance of the walls and crosses. Any Associate or relative of a Sister may visit there simply by making your presence and intentions known to the new owners. Once the Sisters move, we will no longer use this cemetery for new burials. We have been told that there is an existing cemetery on the Greenwich property. We are looking into its future use for the Sisters.

Can we still visit the convent in Peekskill?

We welcome all our friends to come and see us in Peekskill until January 5, 2003 for overnight visits. After that, we will shut down St. Benedict’s House for the winter and packing. Subject to room availability, we may be able to accommodate a few women guests during the winter and spring. Day guests are welcome, and the Peekskill Motor Inn at the bottom of our hill would be happy to provide overnight accommodations.

I’d love a memento from the Convent. Are you having a garage sale?

Our most valuable, but much too bulky, Victorian antiques went to auction September 21 to help pay for our move. Over the years of opening and closing many branch houses, we have accumulated miscellaneous sacred vessels that we would love to sell for a fair price. Within the next month we hope to have these items displayed on our website for a silent auction. We are still sorting one hundred years of “stuff” and deciding with the staff of the Spiritual Life Center what will give both the Convent and the Spiritual Life Center the most economical and efficient start. We are planning an Estate Sale in the late spring and a Moving Day Garage Sale in the summer. The dates have not been set.

Are you taking the goats? (Yes, people ask this. A lot!)

Yes! Although we will not breed our dairy goats again until after we have moved, we hope to resume this work on a small scale upstate. Clearly in the beginning there will also be much to do in reestablishing yard and flower gardens at the new site. We ultimately hope to establish an extensive vegetable garden at the convent using the same sustainable, intensive agricultural principles our Malawian sisters will be using in a parallel model on their farm in Africa. Goats and gardens are very much a part of our dream for the future!