Sisters of Social Service launch $15 million building project

Published: 2004-04-21

ENCINO, Calif. (CNS) -- The Sisters of Social Service broke ground April 7 on a $15 million construction project that will include a new motherhouse, an assisted living center for elderly religious and renovation of the order's nearly 40-year-old Holy Spirit Retreat Center. "This is the biggest and most ambitious building project in our 78-year history," said Sister Jennifer Gaeta, coordinator of the capital campaign, which has already raised $5.5 million through community donations and foundation grants. "It'll help give us more office and meeting space for our sisters and ministries; it'll provide a safe, secure home for our older sisters with special needs; and it'll modernize our retreat center to better serve the thousands of people, both Catholic and non-Catholic, who come here every year," she said. The Sisters of Social Service, the only community of U.S. women religious founded solely for the purpose of professional social work, currently has about 100 members serving in California and four other states, as well as in Mexico, Taiwan and the Philippines.

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