Nuns in need of a home
Donation protected
Nuns in Need of a Home --
Two traditional Roman Catholic Nuns on Mission in New England desperately need your support for finding a suitable house for a convent in Salem, NH. These two Sisters are members of a Traditional Catholic Religious Community, The Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen out of Spokane, Washington. They arrived in Boston in 2005 and began Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Mission in response to a few families who were requesting the Traditional Latin Mass and the corresponding Catholic Life that accompanies the Mass.
Since the Sisters arrived in full habit, the worshipping community has grown, however slowly, to about 50 people. These devoted nuns have established rosary groups in private homes and nursing homes throughout the greater Boston area, as well as in Maine. They have been visiting the sick and offering prayers at many a death bed. They hold adult catechism classes and instruction for the young whenever possible. They have helped out with other Traditional parishes in New York State and held catechism classes for their children as well.
After 11 years of offering masses in private homes, hotels and office buildings, the congregation was finally able to purchase a church building which the parishioners have devoted hundreds of hours to renovate for proper Catholic worship. This has been the main focus of the Sisters, to provide a fitting home for Our Lord. The Sisters have poured every penny into fixing up the church building, not thinking at all of their own personal needs for a convent. Now that the Church is functional (but not completely finished), the Sisters find themselves unable to afford a place to live. The Sisters had to recently give up a rental at the cost of $1650 per month because they have run out of money and are now taking up residence with a parishioner 25 miles from the Church. Their hope is to find a property close to the church in Salem itself. They have been looking for a small 2 bedroom house, but we have convinced them that they need 3 bedrooms so that another nun may be able to join them in the future when they are able to begin a school. They hope to find a building that is structurally sound, needing no major renovation with little or no property so the upkeep will be minimal.
Our small congregation just isn’t large enough to buy a house in the New England area. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the prices of housing here in New Hampshire, a very modest house of about 1200 to 1600 square feet, which may require some fixing-up, will cost at least $300,000. There have been a few homes available under $300K, but if they are livable, they are snatched up so very quickly by families who are in desperate need to provide for their families. The Sisters are not looking for anything elegant, just livable and sound. As they have no income, the banks will not give them a loan for a mortgage. It has been so frustrating for them to continue looking for housing when there is so little available. Lately, as soon as a house comes on the market, it is sold even before they get a chance to see it. If we are able to raise $175,000 for them, they will have a much better chance at finding housing.
We are a small group of friends of the Sisters who hope that others will join us in contributing towards a permanent home for these dedicated nuns. If you can find it in your heart to support them in their quest for a small convent, please contribute what you can. Any size donation will be greatly appreciated and the Sisters will offer a Mass every month for the benefactors of their mission. Thank you for helping to make this a reality. May God bless you through His Immaculate Mother.
Two traditional Roman Catholic Nuns on Mission in New England desperately need your support for finding a suitable house for a convent in Salem, NH. These two Sisters are members of a Traditional Catholic Religious Community, The Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen out of Spokane, Washington. They arrived in Boston in 2005 and began Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Mission in response to a few families who were requesting the Traditional Latin Mass and the corresponding Catholic Life that accompanies the Mass.
Since the Sisters arrived in full habit, the worshipping community has grown, however slowly, to about 50 people. These devoted nuns have established rosary groups in private homes and nursing homes throughout the greater Boston area, as well as in Maine. They have been visiting the sick and offering prayers at many a death bed. They hold adult catechism classes and instruction for the young whenever possible. They have helped out with other Traditional parishes in New York State and held catechism classes for their children as well.
After 11 years of offering masses in private homes, hotels and office buildings, the congregation was finally able to purchase a church building which the parishioners have devoted hundreds of hours to renovate for proper Catholic worship. This has been the main focus of the Sisters, to provide a fitting home for Our Lord. The Sisters have poured every penny into fixing up the church building, not thinking at all of their own personal needs for a convent. Now that the Church is functional (but not completely finished), the Sisters find themselves unable to afford a place to live. The Sisters had to recently give up a rental at the cost of $1650 per month because they have run out of money and are now taking up residence with a parishioner 25 miles from the Church. Their hope is to find a property close to the church in Salem itself. They have been looking for a small 2 bedroom house, but we have convinced them that they need 3 bedrooms so that another nun may be able to join them in the future when they are able to begin a school. They hope to find a building that is structurally sound, needing no major renovation with little or no property so the upkeep will be minimal.
Our small congregation just isn’t large enough to buy a house in the New England area. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the prices of housing here in New Hampshire, a very modest house of about 1200 to 1600 square feet, which may require some fixing-up, will cost at least $300,000. There have been a few homes available under $300K, but if they are livable, they are snatched up so very quickly by families who are in desperate need to provide for their families. The Sisters are not looking for anything elegant, just livable and sound. As they have no income, the banks will not give them a loan for a mortgage. It has been so frustrating for them to continue looking for housing when there is so little available. Lately, as soon as a house comes on the market, it is sold even before they get a chance to see it. If we are able to raise $175,000 for them, they will have a much better chance at finding housing.
We are a small group of friends of the Sisters who hope that others will join us in contributing towards a permanent home for these dedicated nuns. If you can find it in your heart to support them in their quest for a small convent, please contribute what you can. Any size donation will be greatly appreciated and the Sisters will offer a Mass every month for the benefactors of their mission. Thank you for helping to make this a reality. May God bless you through His Immaculate Mother.
Organizer and beneficiary
Alessia Cronkhite
Organizer
North Reading, MA
Janet Elizabeth Urban
Beneficiary
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