A Place of Prayer and Creativity

Editor's note: This week, The Evangelist begins a year-long series of monthly articles that take a look inside large institutions in the Albany Diocese, places you might have driven by and asked: "What goes on in there?" This week: St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham.

Visitors to St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham can count on being greeted with a smile. From the moment one walks into the pink, lavender and mint floral and striped lobby, residents are happy to welcome visitors.

It is those friendly greetings and femininely decorated rooms that make the large complex a home for more than 260 Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet.

"It's a home, not an institution," said Sister Mary Rose Noonan, director of publications for the order. "It's amazing to have nearly 270 people and have a non-institutional atmosphere. It's just a nice house."

Many uses

She describes the complex as "a retirement home, offices and other residences that incorporate the senior sisters into everything. There's never a dull moment."

According to Sister Katherine Hanley, vocation director for the order, the provincial house is available for many groups in the Albany Diocese.

"Retreats are held here," she said. "Lots of diocesan groups meet here. We like to make it a welcoming house. There is a profound witness to the joy of religious life here."

Having diocesan groups come to the provincial house is important, she said. "It's really unique," Sister Katherine said. "It's wonderful for us. It keeps us in touch. This is not a monastery. It is the heartbeat of the province."

Discerning

The welcoming atmosphere and the joy that fills the house also make it the perfect place for women considering a religious vocation to visit, Sister Katherine said.

"It's a good place to bring women in discernment," she said. "They can get a sense of the charism and see that these two things [joy and religious life] are really complementary. They can get a full picture of who we are."

The 25-acre, three-building complex that acts as home base for the sisters has served the community well.

"The people who built this had great foresight," said Sister Anne Lawrence Clark, an archivist for the order. Sister Frances Eustace, another archivist, agreed, saying: "The rooms have gone through many metamorphosis."

History

Dedicated on June 20, 1963, the 275,000-square-foot main building was constructed over a two-year period. It was renovated and redecorated over a five-year period from 1992 through 1997.

The complex, located at Watervliet-Shaker Road and Delatour Road, was built on farmland that was once known as Mulberry Hill, said Sister Anne. Besides the mulberry bushes that gave it its name, the land included crab apple trees.

The site was originally settled by Comte de La Tour Du Pin and his wife, Henriette. The de La Tours were a titled family who came to America to escape the French Revolution. Madame de La Tour had been a lady in waiting to Marie Antoinette. Several of her family members had been executed during the revolution. The family successfully farmed the land before returning to France after the Revolution. Their farmhouse, which burned down in the early 19th century, was rebuilt and served as a stop on the underground railroad before the Civil War. The house now serves as the novitiate for the order.

Place of safety

Sister Katherine said the farmhouse is an appropriate place for the novitiate.

"It's nice for the women," she said. "This place of new beginnings was a stop on the underground railroad. It was a place that preserved dignity and cherished human freedom."

The land that was once farmed by nobility has held on to its rural charm despite being located in the midst of suburbia. The view of the grounds from the provincial house are of trees and rolling hills. The dining room has a view of magnolia trees, and in the distance the City of Troy and the Berkshires. Also, according to Sister Anne, recently there were 17 wild turkeys roaming the grounds that could be seen from the dining room windows.

Watching over

Groundbreaking for the provincial house was held on May 1, 1961. Construction occurred under the careful watch of Mother Athanasia. "She watched and monitored the building," Sister Anne said.

Sister Catherine McCaffrey, also an archivist for the order, said, "Mother Athanasia buried statues of St. Joseph in the concrete to take care of us," a tradition among many Catholics that honors the saint who cared for his Holy Family.

When it was built, the provincial house was home to a satellite extension of the College of Saint Rose for the 100 novices living there, said Sister Frances. It was easier to transport the professors to the provincial house than to move the novices to the Albany campus. The satellite of the college was complete with its own college library, which is still in operation.

Conversion experience

Today, the rooms that once served as classrooms, have been converted to office space, such as the archives, the development office, provincial offices, personnel, communications, social justice and vocations.

Other ministries are also based at the provincial house. These include art studios, a story-telling studio, a ceramics shop, craft store and a music wing. The latter houses a program that teaches music to a wide age group from 18-month-olds to adults.

Place of prayer

Our Lady Queen of Virgins Chapel, located at the Provincial House, boasts a mosaic of the Risen Christ that is 32 feet by 40 feet.

"It's one of the largest mosaics in the world," said Sister Frances. "It was installed by Italian mosaic makers piece by piece."

The chapel windows are also a highlight. Designed by a sister, the windows go through the spectrum of colors.

Changing needs

While the house was once home to a hundred novices beginning their religious life, many of the residents today are senior sisters, some in need of nursing home care.

"I can see how the physical needs in the building have changed," said Sister Carol Ann Rohloff, director of development for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. "When I first entered, it was the high time of religious vocations in the United States -- 59 entered with me. Combined with the group ahead of us, there were 110 of us."

In those days, Sister Carol Ann explained, the novices were responsible for the building and food preparation. "We've now had to hire lay people to help with the upkeep and food service," she said. Currently, 63 lay employees provide maintenance, food service and nursing at the facility.

Healing center

Sister Carol Ann said the hospital floors would be high on her list for visitors to see. They floors are decorated in pink and purple florals with a wallpaper border. Ceiling fans add another homelike touch to these cheery floors. The presence of the nursing staff is the only indication that these are medical floors.

There is a smaller chapel on each hospital floor where residents gather to pray the Rosary for peace or for quiet prayer. A solarium is at the end of each floor where residents can socialize.

Closed circuit television keeps residents in touch with what's happening at the provincial house. Residents can see the chapel, dining room and auditorium from their rooms. This is especially helpful for residents on the hospital floors who can't leave their rooms.

One of the closed circuit channels is dedicated to requests for prayers. "The house rallies behind who ever needs prayers," said Sister Anne. "There are always miracles."

Prayer all the time

Prayer plays an important role at the provincial house. Sister Katherine Hanley said, noting: "It is a profound center of prayer and concern for the needs of the Diocese and the world. People call every day for prayer. The residents hold the needs of the wider Church close to their heart."

The sisters at the provincial house do more than just pray for the needs of the Diocese and the world. According to Sister Alethea Connolly, director of housing and social policy for the Albany province, the sisters channel their energy into making a difference.

She coordinates many social justice programs out of her crowded office at the Provincial House. While Sister Alethea does everything from collecting needed items for the poor to educating legislators, she finds much needed support from the sisters at the house. "They're terrific," Sister Alethea said. "They are always encouraging me. The challenge is out there, not here."

Education

Believing that one reason people get stuck in poverty is a lack of education, the sisters are involved in a program that provides the poor with educational opportunities including tutors at the Provincial House. The program is an effort of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Father Peter Young Center, the College of Saint Rose and Maria College.

"You have to go with your strengths and resources," Sister Alethea said. "We have retired sisters who were educators at all levels. We have these professional resources, so we have tutors. The sisters continue the ministry of education in many ways -- traditional and non-traditional."

Sister Alethea said it is common for the sisters to pop into her office to see what they can do. For example, they sent out Christmas cards to legislators thanking them for their efforts during the year and asking them to remember welfare recipients during the holiday season.

Of the sisters at the provincial house Sister Alethea said, "They like to have something that makes a difference. We've always believed that citizenship is an aspect of our vocation."

Not only is the provincial house home to the sisters, but Sister Alethea pointed out that there are eight developmentally disabled women who live there. "They've been here for over 20 years," she said. "They choose to be here. They feel it's a great place to be."

(For information on visiting the St. Joseph Provincial House in Latham, call 783-3500.)

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