The Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur are determined to stay in Buffalo's West Side where they have been since 1887.
The Belgium-based order of nuns has been in schools and churches locally since it came to Lockport in 1863. There has been a gradual shift to work in parishes, although the order keeps its ties to Mount Saint Mary high school in Tonawanda, as well as having nuns in local colleges and universities.
The nuns are also dealing with gradually aging members. That is leading to a demolition and construction plan for its Saint Mary Center on Lafayette Avenue.
Capital Campaign Coordinator Sister Marian Baumler says staying on the West Side requires changes.
"We have decided that this is where we want our future to be, together, and as we plan for the future, we have many sisters who are still active working and then some who are retired and some who need to have to have some medical attention. We want to be able to live together as one community in this neighborhood," she says.
That means demolition of an infirmary and replacement with a larger building more suited for nuns who are aging. The rooms for the nuns will be remodeled to make sure each can be used by a sister with mobility problems. Sister Marian says its current buildings just don't work for the increasing number of members of the order who need walkers or wheelchairs.
Fundraising for the $5 million project is now underway.
