News

Washington Sisters at a Jubilee celebration in the Spokane Convent of the Holy Names.

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, U.S.-Ontario Province announced today that Catholic Charities purchased the Convent buildings and a portion of its 65 acre Spokane Campus on Fort George Wright Drive in Spokane, Washington. Catholic Charities plans to adaptively re-use the main Convent building for a new innovative social services program called “Rising Strong” in a unique collaboration with Empire Health Foundation. Empire Health Foundation provided $1.6 million to Catholic Charities to go toward the purchase as a program related investment in this exciting project that will aim to reduce the number of children being removed from their homes by Child Protective Services.

In addition, Catholic Charities, in partnership Spokane-based Inland Group, will use a portion of the property to develop affordable housing for both seniors and families, with great care taken to preserve the spiritual and ecological characteristics of the property. Catholic Charities also plans to retain the Chapel for prayer and occasional Mass and other Convent facilities, in support of Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Spokane’s mission to reveal God’s love to the poor and vulnerable. The Sisters selected Catholic Charities in early 2016 after a two year property evaluation and a selection process that concluded at the end of 2015. The art studio and some of the Sisters’ Administrative Offices, including the Development Office, which focuses on fundraising and donor relations, will remain at the property under a rent-free lease with Catholic Charities.

The Sisters also propose to permanently protect and conserve nearly fifty percent of the property, including the entire Spokane River frontage and remaining 31 acres of land surrounded by the River, in collaboration with The Spokane County Conservation Futures Program and other public agencies. The Sisters’ property has been selected by The Conservation Futures Program as the highest priority property for purchase by the program and currently is being evaluated for acquisition by the agency.

“We selected Catholic Charities because their service to Spokane residents and their commitment to stewardship of the property are consistent with our history and mission in this community and our values and goals for the future of the property,” said Sister Kathleen Hilton, who is leading the property transition. “We have served Spokane for more than a century and we appreciate the community’s support of our efforts as we transition the property. Proceeds from the sale will help fund long term housing and care for our aging sisters and also enable us to continue our ministry of education, and providing social services, and financial assistance to organizations who serve the poor, especially marginalized women and children.”

“We’re very thankful to Empire Health Foundation for enabling us to purchase the Sisters’ property.” said Rob McCann, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Spokane. “In our opinion, this property is indeed a sacred space and we take very seriously our obligation to care for it and use it in a way that continues the incredible history of the Sisters reaching out to those in need. We look forward to our continued partnership and service to the fragile and the poor in Spokane as we move forward with our plans for social services and senior and family housing on this great site.”

The Sisters’ Spokane Campus, located at 2911 W Fort George Wright Dr., includes approximately 65 acres, two buildings totaling 77,000 square feet of space with residential living units, administrative offices, a chapel, common dining and recreation areas, an art studio, gathering spaces and retreat facilities. Although the Sisters have used the property for housing and care of Sisters since 1967, the entire property has long been zoned and planned for high density housing by the City of Spokane. Preliminary approvals for development of the property were recently granted by the City of Spokane.

The sale price and terms were not disclosed. Craig Soehren and Mike Livingston, Kiemle & Hagood Company, are serving as the exclusive listing broker for the Sisters of the Holy Names for the property sale.

About the Sisters of the Holy Names Spokane Campus Long Range Planning Process: Given the age and configuration of the buildings, the demographic profile of the Sisters, and the many changes and advancements in health and eldercare delivery in society, the Sisters initiated a long range planning process for the property more than two years ago. Because the Sisters’ expertise and experience has been focused on their mission of education, the Sisters have looked to others with the needed professional expertise to manage the increasing long term housing and health care needs of its members. The Province transitioned Sisters from the Convent to Brookdale at South Regal (formerly Harbor Crest) and nearby apartments during 2013-14 for housing and a residence to meet the care needs of individual Sisters.

Students learn why heart health is important in a video featured on the Apple Teacher website.

Apple has unveiled a program to support teachers who want to use technology in authentic and innovative ways, and it’s been keeping Sister Martha Rolley busy for over a year.

Sister Martha is Director of Education Professional Learning Content at Apple. She and her team were responsible for creating resources for the newly launched Apple Teacher program. Its goal is to inspire, train and celebrate teachers as they develop more effective learning and teaching experiences using an iPad or Mac.

Educators who sign up for the program gain access to online resources and digital books to expand their knowledge about iPad devices and Mac computers, which schools frequently rely on to assist learning. After participants successfully complete a series of quizzes online, they can receive a downloadable Apple Teacher logo to recognize their achievement and expertise.

One teacher who signed up for the Apple Teacher program wrote in a blog post, “Educators are always learning. We chose this profession because we want to help students be successful. Overall, the program fosters our understanding of how best to use the iPad in the classroom… The Apple Teacher program allows teachers to offer quality education that is meaningful and fun.”

On the program’s website, which went live at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, dozens of posts describe how technology is helping students learn everything from English as a second language to the workings of the human heart. Videos, slideshows and articles explain how to take students on a virtual “fly-over” tour of distant cities, create interactive charts to illustrate patterns in data, and personalize learning for students on the autism spectrum, among other topics.

Working on the Apple Teacher program was an appropriate project for Sister Martha due to her decades of working in high tech and her dedication to the Sisters of the Holy Names’ historic teaching mission, which especially embraces those who are underserved. Sister Martha has encouraged SNJM educators to enroll in the program, both to earn recognition as an Apple Teacher and to learn more about the technology they and their students use in Holy Names schools.

In the photo (L-R): Sister Kathleen Ross and Martha Yallup visit with friends at the pow wow.

Two events at Heritage University in Toppenish, WA, last week honored the historic accomplishments of its three foundresses.

Two new buildings were dedicated in the names of Martha Yallup and Violet Lumley Rau (deceased), the two Yakama Nation women who recruited Sister Kathleen Ross to join them in starting the university. In addition, the university hosted its first pow wow, in which all three co-founding mothers were honored. Lila Lumley represented her sister Violet at the ceremonies.

The Martha B. Yallup Health Sciences Center will house the Physician Assistant and other medical programs of Heritage University, and the Violet Lumley Rau Center will have administrative offices.

Members of the SNJM Yakima Mission Centre attended the pow wow on campus on Saturday, Sept. 17. As part of the ceremonies, gratitude was expresssed for the three women whose vision and efforts gave residents of the region an important opportunity for quality higher education. People of all ages belonging to various tribes shared traditional dances, drumming and music with an appreciative crowd of faculty, students and community members.

In the photo (L-R): Sisters Mary Breiling (PLT), Peggy Kennedy, Margaret Kennedy (PLT), Mary Ellen Holohan, Province CFO Vicki Cummings, Maureen Delaney (PLT) and Cathy Beckley.

• Newberg Head Start.
• Maria Louisa Home Ownership Program (named after SNJM Sister Mary Louis Volk, RIP, who ministered to the Latino community in Cornelius for many years).
• Horizon Homeowners Cooperative, a manufactured home park. With CASA’s assistance, this park is now owned by the residents.
• Villa Del Sol, an affordable housing project for farm worker families.
• Virginia Garcia Medical Clinic, which serves primarily farm workers.

During the visit, the executive director of CASA expressed appreciation for the loan and acknowledged SNJM as a collaborator in support of these successful projects, largely assisting farm worker families and other immigrants.