Some of Summerside’s news residents are looking to get to know their neighbours a little better.
The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa recently settled into their new home at 03 Granville St. and the nuns, of which there are currently two with a third soon to arrive, are holding an open house on Aug. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting shortly after 2 p.m.
Sister Margherita Ianni, speaking on behalf of her order, said they are looking forward to formally introducing themselves to the community.
Moving here from their home in Welland, Ont., where their order has been based for many years, has been aided greatly by the welcoming attitude of the people here in Summerside, said Ianni.
“We’re very happy. The people are welcoming. No matter where we go, people will stop us and say ‘oh, you’re the new sisters in Summerside, welcome,’” she said.
She added that, like anyone moving across the country and setting up a new community, the transition was not without its challenges.
“At the beginning it was overwhelming.”
“Thinking of all the people we had left, thousands of people over the years – definitely we missed them very very much. It was a tough at the beginning. But once we started to get to know some people here and the house became more settled we started to feel more at home,”
The sisters have wasted little time since their arrival in Summerside. Shortly after getting settled, they started visiting patients at the Prince County Hospital and the elderly in their homes. They have also started a children’s choir and youth retreat at St. Paul’s church.
The sisters are also in the process of applying for a home daycare license, though there is still some work that needs to be done to their convent before they can be approved.
The primary focus for the sisters is the education of the young and the care of the sick.
But even nuns need some time off, so sisters are also hoping to explore their new community a little more in the coming weeks. A group from their order’s home in Welland will be travelling to Summerside to help with the open house. Once they arrive, the sisters are hoping to get out to play tourist for a few days and explore some of the points of historical interest in P.E.I. They have barely had time to leave the city since their arrival.
Anyone interested in speaking with the nuns about potential activities in the community, whether that be an invitation to an event or visiting someone in their home or at the hospital, can call the convent after 7 p.m. at 902-436-5386.
@JournalPMacLean
