ALLEGANY, N.Y. — While his pace was brisk through St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, the blessings bestowed on the facility by Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo were more than generous during his tour of the renovated facility Tuesday.
The main purpose of Malone’s tour of the Motherhouse on East Main Street was to bless the facility following extensive renovations and expansions a few years ago to accommodate the aging Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The public will also have the opportunity to tour the facility during an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 15, Motherhouse officials said. Visitors will be admitted at the front entrance to the building where they will be taken on tours of the building. Handicap-accessible entrances are also available on either side of the front entrance.
Prior to his tour and blessings of the building, Malone visited with the Sisters during a special luncheon and held Mass for the Congregation and visitors.
“The Motherhouse was blessed many times over its history, but we’ll bless it again,” Malone said during a special blessing in the main entrance of the building near the chapel.
Earlier, Malone said the Motherhouse renovation is a “move that is rooted in a long legacy here in Allegany, and moving forward we will step into the future.”
Renovations of the Motherhouse and construction of the adjoining health center began in 2010 and were completed in 2014. The multimillion-dollar project at the 160,000-square-foot facility included the construction of the new two-story health care facility and renovation of former floors into modernized living quarters for the aging Sisters. Also included in the project was the installation of new electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing and telephone systems.
Sister Mary Lou Lafferty, local minister of the Motherhouse, said long-range plans will include transitioning the facility to lease to businesses and agencies. She said that as the elderly Sisters move on to the health center, their living spaces could be available to older community members to rent as smaller apartments.
During his quick walk through the winding, long halls of the building, Malone stopped briefly now and then to greet Sisters in their apartments. He followed the short visits by sprinkling holy water on them or their living quarters.
“Hello Sisters,” Malone said as he walked past and sprinkled holy water on two Sisters walking down a hall. The unexpected gesture not only brought a smile and laughter from the women, but also a quietly spoken ‘thank you’ to the Bishop.
Longtime maintenance supervisor John Bhe, who helped with the renovations of the Motherhouse, conducted the tour for the Bishop and his secretary, Rev. Ryszard Biernat.
“Prior to the renovation, the rooms were small and the bathroom situation was different,” Bhe said of the former common bathrooms used by the Sisters. Each room now has its own private bathroom and other amenities for the Sisters.
“It’s just nice now to finally see that changes were made to make their lives more comfortable. These ladies worked their entire lives, now is the time to give them something nice,” Bhe added.
Following the tour, Lafferty and Sister Avril Chin, former Congregational minister, noted that individuals invited to Tuesday’s ceremonies included those who were instrumental with the renovation as well as workmen who helped build the Motherhouse during its construction in 1956.
Lafferty noted here are approximately 220 Franciscan Sisters in the overall congregation, many of whom are 60 years old and older. Of those, more than 60 currently reside at the Motherhouse and health center. As they age, many Sisters in the congregation move to the Motherhouse for more care.
