Q & A Document from the Sisters of St. Margaret

The following document was circulated to a neighborhood mailing list on 18 February.  We hesitated to republish it as is, because it is not our document and we are adding nothing to it.  However, it appears nowhere on the convent website and it is clearly of interest to those who do not subscribe to the neighborhood lists.

A similar document from the Bridge Boston Charter School was circulated the same day. It also does not appear on the school's website. We intend to republish that tomorrow.

Q & A Document from the Sisters of St. Margaret -

February 10, 2011

Although we will miss our neighbors, our current building at 17 Highland Park Avenue is too large for us and we cannot afford to stay here, especially at a time when we are focusing our limited resources on our mission in Haiti, whose people are suffering. 

Who is buying the property?

We do have an agreement with the Bridge Boston charter school dependent upon their charter acceptance, which is expected to be decided by the end of February.  Although the property is zoned residential, we have not marketed the property to private developers at this time.

Although we will miss our neighbors, we hope they understand that the sale of the property will allow us to focus on our mission of helping the people of Haiti, where we have had a presence since 1927.  In the recent earthquake, we lost the building that our Sisters live in. 

How will the community be affected?

While this is a wonderful community and we will miss it, we rarely have neighbors attending our services and many of the residents that were once active here have died or moved away. 

We believe Bridge Boston, if they advance as a potential buyer, would be a wonderful partner for the community.

Where are you going?

We are consolidating our convent in Duxbury, at a property our order has owned since 1903. But in many ways, our home is everyplace our mission work is happening.

What will happen to the Garrison House?

The Garrison House, attached to the convent, is part of the National Register of Historic Buildings, a designation that potential buyers will be aware of. If the owner is Bridge Boston, they intend to carefully maintain the Garrison House and use it in the immediate and long term for faculty/administrative housing.

Will you have any presence in Boston?

Yes, we are committed to our mission in Boston which includes involvement in the B-Safe Summer Program and the Generations Incorporated afterschool tutoring program at St. Stephen’s Church.  We also work with an arts program at St. Martins and St. Augustine’s in addition to our Chaplin work at the Suffolk County House of Corrections.  Several of our sisters will continue to live in Boston at a small residence in order to complete their work.

Where is the Fort Hill Civic Association going to meet?

We have welcomed the Fort Hill Civic Association here for many years and appreciate the work they do in the community. Bridge Boston has indicated that they would love to continue to have the Fort Hill Civic Association meet at the property.

What if the deal with Bridge Boston doesn’t go through?

We would pursue other select like-minded institutions in the event that this deal does not happen.

When can we talk to Bridge Boston more about their plans?

They plan on having many community meetings.

Is this contingent upon them getting a charter or ZBA approvals?

Yes.

For more information contact:

 Sr. Adele Marie or Sr. Carolyn

617-445-8961