At ‘Houses of Welcome’ in New Haven, Connecticut and Columbus, Ohio, discerning women learn this essential – and at times, challenging – way of life.

Vocation Directors Sisters June Fitzgerald, OP, and Ana Gonzalez, OP, speak to the role these houses have in deepening community with one another and with God.

Sr. Terri Schell, OP, made her first profession in 2025. The Columbus House of Welcome was a place to experience the Sisters in her discernment. Now she calls it home.

“Everyone is committed being part of your formation,” Sr. Terri said. “It’s not a side gig – you have a team of people around you helping you decide and walking with you.”

Like most “roommate” arrangements, there’s a chore chart that outlines who cooks and cleans. But this community is much more than sharing meals and a roof.

Sr. Tram Bui, OP, has lived in both the Ohio and Connecticut Houses of Welcome, and recognizes the unique atmosphere they offer to women preparing for religious life.

"I am grateful for the support, not only from the Sisters who are living with me, but also from the Congregation as a whole," Sr. Tram, now living in Connecticut, says. "I appreciate the sharing during our prayer, and the diversity."

When a Sister leaves active ministry, sometimes 50 or more years after they enter religious life – community remains. When they need extra care, sisters have the option to live at Mohun Health Care Center (Columbus), the infirmary at our Great Bend, Kansas, Motherhouse, or Sansbury Care Center (St. Catharine, Kentucky).

At Sansbury, a community feeling is encouraged through daily Mass and regular celebrations. But in 2025, it also meant some structural improvements. Updated shower rooms, new paint, and a refreshed chapel gave Sansbury a breath of fresh air.

“Our sisters are really enjoying our newly renovated chapel with new furniture as well as new HVAC and sound systems,” Sansbury Mission Group Coordinator Sr. Barbara Rapp, OP, said. “Replacing the old pews with chairs has provided greater flexibility for seating.” The "new" chairs at Sansbury were repurposed from the Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse Chapel in Akron.

This flexibility is key, as many of Sansbury sisters use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walkers. The ability to comfortably commune in any space – be it the chapel, the dining room, or even a hallway – is always considered with renovations.

Sr. Andre Kravec, OP, has a unique perspective on community, having been one of few “only children” she’s met in the Congregation. After 68 years of communal living, three of them at Mohun, she’s gotten the hang of it.

“I never had to share anything with anybody,” Sr. Andre joked. “After a while, I just accepted it and found myself being happy. I’ve always felt respected and appreciated, and what more could you want?”

Excellence in Care, Recognized Nationwide
In 2025, Mohun Health Care Center was recognized by U.S. News & World Report in their Best Nursing Homes ratings—for both Long-Term Care and  Short-Term Rehabilitation. These ratings are based on national data around care outcomes, staffing, and overall performance. Only a relatively small percentage of nursing homes across the country earn this recognition, and even fewer receive it in both categories.

“For us, it was a meaningful acknowledgment of the work our team does every day and the consistent quality of care our residents experience,” Mohun Administrator April Queener said.