Saint James Catholic Church is breaking ground for a new convent that will be the residence for members of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia. The groundbreaking will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 24 on the Saint James Catholic School campus located at 401 Robinbrooke Boulevard. Special guests attending the event include Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D., Archbishop of Louisville, Elizabethtown community leaders as well as clergy and religious from throughout the Archdiocese.
Saint James Catholic Church is excited to welcome members of the Dominican Sisters as they join the parish community in the summer of 2016. There will be three Dominican sisters joining the parish – Sister Marie Hannah Seiler, OP, will serve as the principal of Saint James Catholic School with the start of the 2016-2017 school year and Sister Augusta Nickel, O.P. and Sister Maria Clemens Wolf O.P. will serve in parish ministries assisting with both religious education within the school as well as faith formation for all parishioners.
The Motherhouse for the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation is located in Nashville, Tennessee. For more than 150 years, they have served the Church through their religious life and educational ministry. The Congregation is serving in 43 schools in 23 dioceses within the United States and will add Saint James Catholic School to this list beginning with the next school year. This will be the first mission of the Dominican Sisters in the state of Kentucky and the Archdiocese of Louisville as well. With a median age of 36, the community is thriving and growing.
“I am thrilled to welcome the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia to Saint James Catholic Church as well as the Archdiocese of Louisville. It is difficult for me to articulate in words the significance of this for Saint James, the Hardin County community, as well as for me personally,” said Father Martin Linebach, pastor of Saint James Catholic Church.
“These women religious are like no other that I have been privileged to know in my years. The Dominican Sisters are not just spiritual and committed to their vowed life, but they provide an overwhelming sense of joy for the work they do, service to God and others. It is difficult to imagine today the impact and influence they will have on our spiritual lives and educational endeavors in the days and years ahead.”
In addition to the three Dominican Sisters who will joining Saint James Parish and School, it is expected that nearly 20 other Sisters from Nashville will attend the groundbreaking on April 24.
After the groundbreaking ceremony there will be a BBQ dinner provided by Texas Outlaw, activities for children in the school gym and cafeteria. Saint James Catholic School will also be open throughout the event for tours.