FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday June 11, 2001, 8:30 am
Contact: S. Maria Hill, CSJ - (513) 761-2888

NEWLY RENOVATED CENTRAL HOUSE ILLUSTRATES CATHOLIC SISTERS' MISSION OF "BUILDING TOGETHER."
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Rededication Ceremony Continues Tradition of Building Bridges Between the Sisters of St. Joseph and Crookston, Minnesota Community
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June 11, 2001 / Crookston, Minnesota – The year was 1958. America was at the height of the cold war and an expanding prosperity. The first-ever transatlantic passenger jet service was launched. The Hula Hoop was on sale for $1.98. John Kenneth Galbraith had just published his book "The Affluent Society," which portrayed the widening gulf between private wealth and public poverty.

As if to demonstrate the forces in our society that focus on spiritual well-being, 1958 also saw the dedication of the Marywood House in this modest town in Minnesota. It was the new home of the most northernmost U.S. community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille (CSJ) and it represented the culmination of many years of hard work, prayer and ministry. In fact, the new home had roots as far back as 1903 when Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in Argyle, Minnesota from France. Subsequent years saw the founding of schools in Minnesota including the St. Joseph's Academy in Crookston in 1905.

Built well for that time, Marywood was nonetheless in need of serious improvements by the turn of the new century. The upgrades were completed in December of 2000.

Today, the happy sounds of children playing and women gathering have replaced the sounds of construction. The facility now houses improved living quarters for the sisters, critically-needed amenities such as wheelchair accessibility and a new day care center for area children.

The rededication ceremony took place yesterday at 2:00 pm with Bishop Victor Balke presiding at the mass and blessing of the building. CSJ President S. Lucy Silvio provided remarks. "In addition to providing a home for a praying, welcoming community of women religious, it is also a place of gathering, meeting, retreat and celebration…" S. Maria Hill, CSJ added, in her call to prayer at the dedication, " An uncountable number of people have been served, and continue to be served, by those who live or minister here. It is a holy place…"

Forty-three years after the first dedication of Marywood, the country has changed dramatically - but the vows lived daily by the Sisters of Joseph have not.

Journalists may contact S. Maria Hill at maria@sistersofstjoseph.org or at (513) 761-2888. Additional information available at www.sistersofstjoseph.org.