The Bronx
In 1984, with the pending sale of the New York 29th. Street retreat center, the Sisters decided to look for a smaller location in the Archdiocese of New York. Having been in Manhattan since 1908, and 29th Street being the last large retreat center belonging to the Sisters in the United States, the Sisters were moving into a new era of ministry and service. Eventually the 29th Street property was sold.
After considerable research it was decided to purchase a newly constructed building in the Bronx, New York. On March 22, 1985 seven Sisters moved to the new Bronx location. The Bronx location served as a transition house and many Sisters formed the community throughout the years.
Located approximately 40 minutes from another SMR community in Ridgewood, Queens, New York, the Bronx house proved to be ideal for the needs of the Sisters. It was the legal residence for the province and could accommodate seven to nine Sisters with sufficient space for guests. The access to public transportation and proximity to several parishes made it ideal for ministry possibilities. The neighborhood was typical of New York with a mix of various nationalities though there was a heavy concentration of Irish persons.
The Sisters who formed the community over the years served in various types of ministries. Some of these ministries were pastoral work in parishes in the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens; coordinating food service in a Manhattan residence for the homeless; social work in local nursing homes; and visitation of the sick and homebound.
During the years spent in the Bronx many wonderful friendships were made not only in the surrounding neighborhoods but through the various ministries of the sisters. Sisters from the SMR congregation, both international and within the United States, were welcomed warmly and treated to New York hospitality. The Sisters remained in the Bronx until August 20, 1997. Like so many places in our SMR journey, many wonderful memories were formed from our years of living and serving in the Bronx, New York.
