Blessing of Phase 1 of the Motherhouse Reconfiguration Project

On April 28, 2012, the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, friends and family ended mass with a procession to our newly reconfigured living spaces to bless our house.

Fr. Nick Shori celebrated mass and the prayers over the new space, and he, General Superior Sister Nancy Dawson and Motherhouse Administrator Sister Bridget Nolan blessed every room and space with holy water.
Although the space won’t be move-in ready for a few weeks, our spirits are high as we look forward to this new chapter in our lives, which is a great blessing indeed.

Following Universal Design principles, 24 living spaces with private, handicapped-accessible bathrooms are being created to make better use of our building and provide safety for the Sisters now and into the future. New plumbing, electrical components, and heating and ventilation systems are bringing the building’s infrastructure into the 21st century. Breckinridge Heating & Cooling has posted about the project, calling it humanitarian and inspiring.

As you’ll see in the video below, the assembly April 28 sang the following song to inaugurate our new living spaces. We would be grateful if, as you read it, you offer it up as a prayer for the blessing of our house.

Bless this House

Bless this house, O Lord we pray,
Make it safe by night and day . . .
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out . . .
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie overall . . .
Bless this door that it may prove,
Ever open,
To joy and love . . .
Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God’s Heavenly light,
Bless the hearth, the painting there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer!
Bless the folk who dwell within,
Keep them pure and free from sin . . .
Bless us all that we may be,
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee . . .
Bless us all that one day we may dwell,
O Lord! With Thee!
Words and Music by Helen Taylor and May H. Morgan