Sisters of St. Mary of Namur return to West Side

The sisters are back.

After waiting 18 months for their new residence to be built, the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur are returning en masse to Buffalos West Side.

The residence, located on Lafayette Avenue between an old convent and a newer administrative building, primarily will house retired sisters. They began moving in this week.

The work also included an overhaul of the convent, where sisters who are still working will live. Together, the buildings will accommodate about 25 women, a third of the entire order.

The Catholic order of women religious has deep roots in Western New York.

The sisters were badly in need of better living space, especially for the elderly and infirm among them.

Its the largest concentration of St. Mary of Namur nuns to live in a single location in many years.

But the orders leaders said the new facilities werent built solely for their comfort.

They chose to stay on the West Side to make a difference, especially among a population of new immigrants who need help learning English and understanding American culture.

We want to be at the heart of where theres still outreach, said Sister Judith Carroll, provincial superior. If we had gone to a place out farther, it wouldnt have, I dont think for us, that possibility of continuing the mission. Even as reduced as it may be, thats part of who we are.

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Sisters of St. Mary of Namur return to West Side