by Carole Anne Scott

Even as the Sisters of St. Joseph (the “CSJs”) moved into what once was the Rectory for St. Andrew Parish in Forest Hills and even as they worked tirelessly to transform it into a “Hospitality House,” a sacred space welcoming women seeking to learn more about the consecrated life, they knew upfront that their time in their new home would be limited.

They expected to stay for about three years and were delighted that they were granted a full seven before their moving day was at hand as the property had been placed on the market.

During their time spent in Forest Hills, the five Sisters, Mary Ann Crowley, Mary Ann Enright, Helen Noonan, Mary Theresa O’Reilly, and Peggy Rooney, became an integral part of the neighborhood. Not confining their green-thumb talents to their own yard, they shared them at the community garden up the hill on Lyman Street. In keeping with the CSJ charism of reaching out to the “dear neighbor,” they were friends to everyone around them. As a farewell present to those living nearby, the Sisters baked many individual loaves of bread which they distributed in person.

As another farewell gift to the community, the Sisters uprooted the many plants they had placed around their home, transplanting them into the Lyman Street garden. Fearing that the plants might be destroyed if the property were extensively renovated, the Sisters made sure that they would live on as items of beauty for all to enjoy.

They insist that as much as they gave, they too were greatly gifted in return. All five of them raved about the people of Forest Hills, saying, “They were always looking out for us, promising ‘Anything you need, just let us know’ and remaining true to that promise.” Sister Peggy Rooney, who grew up in Sacred Heart Parish, was quick to point out, “If I asked to borrow an egg, I’d be given two!”

True to its name, over the years, their place had indeed been a “Hospitality House,” not just for their Forest Hills neighbors, but also for others from more widespread regions. Sr. Mary Ann Crowley pointed out that during the course of their stay, the Sisters welcomed to their home many women who spent quality time with them, among them a teacher at Mother Caroline Academy who needed a quiet weekend every so often, several Holy Cross Associates who minister to the poor in Brockton and live there under crowded conditions, and the Patton Street JVCs who would arrive every two weeks for spiritual direction, in addition to numerous high-school and college women who would spend a month with the Sisters while volunteering in nearby ministries as part of their senior projects. Sister stated, “Each woman left her gift with us and we will be forever grateful that we had such a welcoming space for them.”

As the Sisters’ departure date approached, local residents showed up with everything for them from lasagna to cake. Meanwhile they themselves began the process of saying goodbye to the beloved house they had called home. As part of that farewell, they invited back, for a closing dinner, the women who had stayed with them during their time in Forest Hills and had actually become members of the CSJ community, namely Sisters Deirdre Griffin, Dianne Horsch, Susan Mattuchio, Patricia Quinn, and Olga Viasus. Joining them was Teresa Doyle Smith, a current CSJ candidate, who is a widow and the mother of a now grown daughter, and who lives with the five Sisters. Sr. Mary Ann Enright stated, “It was a special evening of sharing memories, many laughs, and prayer.” As a final closing ritual, she and Sr. Peggy Rooney, the last two to leave, walked through the empty house, blessing every room.

The neighbors expressed extreme sadness and regret when the Gentle Giant moving van came to take the nuns to their new Formation House in Dedham. Their extraordinary new home was truly heaven-sent, however.

They needed an affordable place to rent, with seven rooms and parking for six cars, a tall order anywhere, let alone in our Boston area. The Sisters had searched high and low, with Sr. Helen Noonan, leading the efforts since she had a late back-to-school start-date and a former student whose parent was a local realtor. The only house that came close to meeting their criteria was in the “District 1, Mansion Section” of Dedham, near the courthouse. Reluctant to accept this selection because of its size, magnitude and its lack of an adjacent subway line, the Sisters kept searching, eager to find something else, but all their efforts met with no success.

The millionaire owner of the house in Dedham was willing to make them a good deal on a five-year lease. In return, he told them, “I have eight children. I ask that you pray for them.” After obtaining the Congregation’s approval, they agreed to his terms, and the house, indeed a mansion, was theirs to rent. The Sisters see it as a special sign that on the day they made the proposal to the Congregation, they learned that Father Bill Williams, former associate pastor at Sacred Heart and about to vacate his role as pastor of St. Mary’s in Hull, would be their new pastor at St. Mary’s Parish in Dedham. The Sisters know Father Williams well from attending his Masses whenever they were staying at their Retreat House in nearby Cohasset and they are delighted that he’ll be their new pastor, explaining, “We really want to be connected to a parish.”

The move did not come without its share of funny stories. Quickly deciding that the enormous master bedroom would become a common sitting area and convertible-sofa guest room when needed, the Sisters went about having the on-the-wall TV removed, almost dropping it in the process! Wanting more room in the foyer, they had the movers extricate a massive, carved, wooden antique sideboard, bringing into their prayer room. After weeks of going all the way around because the garage had no remotes to open its doors, the intrepid Sr. Mary Theresa valiantly perched on the roof of her car to read the phone number of the garage-door-opener company, posted on the mechanism on the ceiling. “I dented the car’s roof,” she laughed, adding, “but we were able to pop it back out.” Their landlord left behind many items for the Sisters to use, among them a high-tech lawn mower and snow-blower, which they aren’t quite sure how to operate. Speaking about that equipment, Sr.

Mary Ann Enright quipped, “If you see a flying nun, you’ll know that the machine won out!”

In all seriousness, the Sisters are extending an open invitation to women feeling a call to consecrated life, wanting to explore its possibilities, seeking an experience of community, searching for some quite space, and/or wishing to share spiritual direction. Sr. Mary Theresa explained, “Religious life is good for us; we hope to pass it on. So many young women are into service projects. They are usually prayerful people, looking for a community.” As Sr. Helen related, “We share values with each other and the ups and downs that go with service to others. We invite others to ask ‘Where is God calling me now?’ and ‘What is God calling me to?’” If you feel that God may be calling you to serve in this ministry, please contact Sr. Mary Ann Crowley at (781) 686-9483 or e-mail her at MaryAnn.Crowley@csjBoston.org.

We’ll miss these vibrant women of faith who have been such dear neighbors to us and we thank them for their many acts of kindness and service among us over these past seven years. May every grace and blessing be theirs in their new Formation House and may God inspire other women of faith to join them in their essential ministries.