A Catholic order of nuns is hoping to set up a new convent in Summerside. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa has applied to the city to allow the rezoning of a residential property, located at 291 South Drive, from RI zoning to Institutional zoning.
If successful in their application, the sisters intend to renovate the home currently on the property to house three full time residents and two or three part-time residents. Gerry Gabriel, a spokesman for the Diocese of Charlottetown, said that the presence of these sisters would mean a lot to the Catholic community. “I can tell you emphatically that our bishop is very pleased that they have chosen to come,” he said. “They’ll be a blessing. They’ll add new life and energy in the parish community.”
Summerside is currently home to a small group of nuns from the Congregation of Notre Dame, however, in recent years, its members have focused on providing hospitality at their convent, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Centre, which doubles as a spiritual retreat. So there has been a need for outreach services in the area for some time, said Gabriel, and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Regusa hope to fill that need.
They intend to focus their efforts on catechism, visiting with the elderly in their homes and the sick in hospital. Sister Margherita Ianni, speaking from her order’s home in Welland, Ont., said they are excited to receive an opportunity to work in a place like P.E.I. She said her order has long venerated St. Joseph, and will look to his guidance again as they attempt to make a home in Summerside.
“We come to Summerside with that same hope and that same spirit of faith that St. Joseph, who provided for the Holy Family in Nazareth, will always guide and provide for us wherever we go,” said lanni.
The sisters hope to start renovating their new home as soon as possible and move in sometime in the summer of 2017.
“I acknowledge with great gratitude the services that the Congregation of Notre Dame and the Sisters of St. Martha have provided the Diocese over the past many decades and the they continue to provide currently”, said Bishop Grecco.
“At the same time, it is most helpful to our people and families that other sisters are coming to serve as well,” said Bishop Richard Grecco in a press release. For further information about the Sacred Heart Sisters coming to Summerside, contact rc@dioceseofcharlottetown.com or 902-368-8005.
Things to know:
1 . The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa were founded In 1889 in Ragusa on the island of Sicily, Italy.
2. The order has only one convent in Canada, in Welland, Ont.
3. The order is active in Italy, the United States of America, Canada, Madagascar, Philippines, Nigeria, Romania, India and in Panama.
4. The sisters of the order believe In: service to the poor, care for the sick and elderly, teaching the young, and pastoral care.
To Visit the Sister’s Web Site and Learn More about their order