Gloucester County Times, The (NJ): Document Display http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=print...
Gloucester County Times, The (NJ)
March 13, 2009
Group decries $800G home for nuns
Christina Paciolla
cpaciolla@sjnewsco.com
The five sisters of the Mary Immaculate Nyeri Convent of Elmer are slated to move into a new,
six-bedroom, $800,000 house this weekend, on Langely Road in Pittsgrove Township. The home,
originally on the market for nearly $1.5 million, according to Andrew Walton of the Diocese of
Camden, was purchased by the organization last July.
"Given the need of the sisters and given the fact that the property was being offered to the diocese at
such a substantial discount - we've purchased the property for the religious sisters," Walton said.
Currently, the five sisters of Mary Immaculate Nyeri live in a three-bedroom home in Elmer, and
serve the Mater Dei Nursing Home in Newfield. Sister Bernadette, one of the sisters to move into the
Langely Road home, said that she and the other sisters have been inside the home and utilized its
chapel. She said the moving process is starting as early as today.
But the Council of Parishes of Southern New Jersey, a grass-roots parish organization, said the sisters
moving into the house is a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the Diocese of Camden and that it was not
its original, intended use.
"We don't believe it," said Leah Vassallo, co-chair of the Council of Parishes. "First of all, it makes no
sense. Why should nuns live in what is described as a lavish country estate? It's completely
contradictory to what the nuns' mission and purpose is."
Walton said that the diocese was contacted by Bobby and Karen Thompson, a "very active Catholic
family," who owned the property. He said the Thompsons hoped the diocese would have a use for
their home, a six-bedroom country estate that sits on 11 acres and features six bedrooms, a walk-out
basement, a circle driveway and six horse stalls. Walton said the diocese purchased the property with
the eventual intention to use it for religious retreats in the future.
"The need exists right now," said Walton, who added that the sisters expressed concerns over more
space. "Knowing how costly it would be to build a convent or to refurbish another facility, this was a
much more reasonable way to meet their needs."
Vassallo and the Council of Parishes challenged the diocese's decision to have the sisters move in this
weekend, citing the fact that the home hasn't been inhabited for the last seven months. Walton said
that the house was in good condition when the diocese purchased it, and recently, work was being
done on the bathrooms.
Sister Bernadette calls the new home "a blessing" and thought it was time for the five sisters to get
adequate living quarters.
"It would be a great thing just to have a bigger house," she said. "I think it's really wonderful that the
diocese has done this."
The Diocese of Camden, led by Bishop Joseph A. Galante, has been scrutinized in recent months
1 of 2 7/23/09 6:16 PM
Gloucester County Times, The (NJ): Document Display http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=print...
since Galante announced last spring that about half of the diocese's parishes would close. Vassallo is a
parishioner of St. Mary's of Malaga, one of the churches to close. The sisters of Immaculate Nyeri do
not serve St. Mary's of Malaga, yet have done work at Holy Name in Mullica Hill, Walton said.
While the five sisters should move in this weekend, Walton said, there are plans to expand this
particular order in the diocese.
The Council of Parishes feels as if the diocese is now "stuck" with the sisters moving into the new
home, even though there is no question that each sister should have her own bedroom.
"There's a huge difference between a five-bedroom house and an $800,000 house," Vassallo said.
Copyright 2009 The Gloucester County Times. All Rights Reserved.
2 of 2 7/23/09 6:16 PM