20th Anniversary of Our Lady of Peace Residence

Welcome to sisters and friends joining us here, and on livestream. Today, we pause with gratitude to remember a significant moment in our shared history twenty years ago: our move from the Marian Convent into the newly built Our Lady of Peace Residence. Let me offer a historical context for this event. Mary Persico was our President during the time of the planning and completion of OLP; Mary Jo Gallagher, Barbara Jablonski, Susan Hadzima, Eleanor Mary Marconi, and I served on Mary’s Council. In 2006, Amy Zychal was elected to serve with us and Eleanor Mary transitioned to the Administrative Team of OLP with Mary Kay Faliskie, and Jean Coughlin became the Administrator.

January 16, 2006, was a hope-filled and freezing day with temperatures hovering around 5 degrees. And, it was filled with warm excitement and great appreciation for the beauty of the building and the amazing number of sisters, family members, and friends who were part of the generous group of companions and volunteers. Many local communities assisted “their Marian Convent Sisters” with the final “moving out” touches and assisted our new OLP sisters as they moved in. The sisters signed themselves into the new residence and then went with their companions to unpack any final bags and boxes. They checked out their neighborhood and neighbors and then gathered together for the first meal in the dining room and spent their first night in their new home.

The “sign-in book” and other artifacts of the day are on display in the dining room. If you were here assisting on January 16, 2006, please raise your hand. Thank you for being here then and now. There is a little-known fact about this anniversary: our Sister Richard Mary holds the privilege of being the remaining member of the pioneer sisters who signed into OLP on January 16th. Richard, we are very grateful for your ongoing presence among us.

Twenty years ago, OLP was more than an architectural plan or a scathingly brilliant idea. It was a bold act of faith and imagination, a dream for a home-like environment that would support our sisters who lived here as they aged or recuperated. In our determination and commitment, we, as a congregation, stated clearly that we were willing to invest in a future we could not yet see, to create a place where sacred peace, welcome, and mission could unfold in God’s time.

Today, Our Lady of Peace Residence continues to be a symbol of our ability to envision beyond the present— to dare to dream, to create, and to shepherd a mission of care for our members while inviting our lay sisters and brothers to collaborate with us in this mission. How blessed we were and are by our former administrators, Sister Jean Coughlin and Mary Theresa Malandro and new administrators, Sue Shevlin, Alice Turner, and Kitty Scanlan, and by all of our staff members, some who started with us early in their careers at the Marian Convent and continue to minister with us as they collaborate in shaping our story today through their love and care for our sisters.

The story of Our Lady of Peace Residence is one of vision, passion for the possible, and courage to embrace and entertain the unimaginable with creativity and resilience. It is a story that continues to call us forward into the emerging future with trust in God’s abundant and providential love.

May God bless our sisters who reside at OLP; our administrators, Sue, Alice, and Kitty, who are leading us into OLP’s next chapter; and our dedicated staff and volunteers whose loving service sustains both our sisters and this sacred home. Know that you are held in our hearts and prayers with love and gratitude.

As we celebrate this day, let’s also be mindful and grateful for the many consultants, vendors, friends, and donors who walked with us and financially supported the building of OLP and continue to support our retired sisters today. May God bless us one and all. May the next 20 years fill us with ongoing dreams for OLP that continue to bring life and support our sisters, mission, and charism.