22 nuns

move to

Windham

By Linda Lemmon

Town Crier Editor

PUTNAM --- In anticipation of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit property being sold, the 22 Sisters living in the Holy Spirit Health Care Center will now have a new home: St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.

A Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated last week and the Sisters were missioned by the Provincial of the US Province of DHS to "bring and live the charism of the Congregation in a new environment."

The center is licensed for 22 beds, according to Provincial Sr. Gertrude Lanouette and all 22 will be moving. The move will take place between June 24 and July 8. The health center has been at the Daughters of the Holy Spirit property since the mid-1980s.

"Changing demographics and numbers of the membership of the US Province led to the decision that changes, including the eventual sale of the Provincial House needed to be made to assure the long-term care of the Sisters and their continued involvement in a quality life of ministry," according to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit website. 

"While this is indeed a bittersweet moment for our Province, it is deemed to be a huge blessing and an historical event for the Congregational that has been in Putnam for 100 years.. For the time being the Provincial House remains on the former Morse mansion site," the website said. The Province purchased the Morse mansion Jan. 12, 1916 and moved in in 1917.

Sister Lanouette said the Province has a buyer and the purchase is still being negotiated.