Friday, May 23, 2025
The Sisters of St. Joseph are planning for our future. That includes the buildings and properties – the Motherhouse, Manna House, Neighbor to Neighbor, the Mound Street residence, and Court Street offices.
While we have no definite timeline, we know that we will not have a need for the buildings in a few years. We believe now is the time to begin planning. Thus, we will put all those properties up for sale after the first of the new year.
We are doing this because we want to be good stewards of the resources that have served us well and hold memories for so many for over 140 years.
Manna House has a rich heritage. Built in 1884, it was our first Motherhouse. It was also a boarding school. When we built the current Motherhouse in 1902, Manna House became St. Joseph Hospital. The Concordia Kansan (September 8, 1903) said of the new hospital. “There is no finer, though there may be larger, institution of this character in any city West of Chicago or St. Louis… It is a good thing for Concordia.”
Over the years, there was a need for a new hospital, which was dedicated in March 1951. The old hospital building on 5th Street was converted to St. Anne’s Home for the Aged and opened in March 1952.
In the 1970s, we built Mt. Joseph, and the building became Manna House of Prayer, which it remains to this day. It offers retreats and workshops and is our outreach to those in need.
Because of the rich heritage and the memories it holds for untold numbers of people, we hope to ensure its good use going forward.
The Motherhouse has been our home and the site of many celebrations. We have shared it with the public for music lessons and recitals, public forums, and special events like Christmas Tree Lane, partnered with Cloud County Tourism, and so much more.
Neighbor to Neighbor on 6th Street met a need and collaborated with many other organizations and individuals. When we first purchased the building, the help with remodeling that we received from Concordians was astounding! The continued support of the community has been very generous.
We have had a long history blended into the fabric of Concordia and North Central Kansas. That is why we want to responsibly plan for a future when there are fewer sisters. We want the properties taken care of in a way that will continue to benefit Concordia.
We will keep the sisters, employees, and the appropriate civic and church leaders informed as we learn more and make decisions. We have enormous challenges ahead of us. Our first priority is the continuing care of the sisters. We will also need to make provisions for the ongoing care of the cemetery and determine where to locate the archives so they are still accessible for research.
Thank you, Concordia, for your ongoing friendship and support. We are grateful for you!
by Jean Rosemarynoski, CSJ, President of the Sisters of St. Joseph
