Photo by Kacie Fuselier

Sisters Visit Renovated Mother Alice Hall

Approximately a dozen Sisters of St. Joseph visited Mother Alice Hall on March 10, touring the renovated spaces that previously served as the Sisters’ residence.

“I am so happy for this use of the space. It’s just great for the girls.” Sister Jane Louise Arbour, CSJ

The Sisters were greeted by SJA President Sister Adele Lambert, CSJ, Principal Linda Fryoux Harvison, members of the Development and Alumnae offices, faculty/staff members and several students. Academy graduate Rachel Riley of Post Architects, who served as project architect on the two-phase renovations, was also on hand for the tour.

The Sisters enjoyed visiting the spacious new classrooms for the theology and visual art departments, the cooking lab, sewing lab, art lab, gallery and weight room. The Sisters’ decision to turn over the $6 million building to SJA for strictly academic space means the school now has complete access to every building on campus.

“We were so very pleased to show off the newly designed space and to express our great gratitude for the gift to the Academy by the Congregation of St. Joseph,” Sr. Adele said. “The Sisters were delighted to see the ‘new’ Mother Alice Hall created as a space for the Academy students. They recalled their own precious memories of being here. At least one of the Sisters was a 12-year graduate and had lived in Mother Alice Hall for a number of years. She was delighted to show off her old bedroom.”

“This is really neat,” Sr. Jane said of the renovated spaces. “It is just wonderful. I am so happy for this use of the space. It’s just great for the girls.”

The visitors enjoyed walking through several classes and talking with the students and teachers, including art teacher Juliet Lockwood, family and consumer science teacher Amy Neck, theology teacher Kristen Lazarine and adult responsibility/fine arts survey teacher Stacy Rennhoff.

“To welcome the Sisters back to their home where they could see our girls in action was connecting their sacred thread,” Harvison said.

“This is just wonderful,” said Sister Cynthia Sabathier, CSJ, director of the St. Joseph Spirituality Center and tour participant. “The space is being utilized in a pragmatic, efficient way that is also beautiful. Looking back at what this was and what it is now, I think it’s a wonderful transformation.”

Several students acted as tour guides and enjoyed interacting with the Sisters. Junior Alexandra Gillio said she especially enjoyed hearing the Sisters’ stories from days gone by. “I also got to see how excited they were with the amazing renovations,” she said.

Junior Elise Abshire expressed similar sentiments. “It was such a pleasure to be able to take the Sisters on a tour of the renovations,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and seeing their reactions to these impressive renovations. It was interesting to hear their experiences from over the years in the Convent. I think that the new space to learn is extremely beneficial to all of the students here.”

Sister Joan Laplace, CSJ, director of major gifts and planned giving, said the Sisters were delighted to tour the renovated areas and visit classes in session. “There was no substitute for actually seeing their living quarters transformed into Academy classrooms,” Sr. Joan said. “They are proud of ‘their school’ and very happy to see it continue to grow and flourish. Having conversations with the Student Ambassadors who acted as tour guides was icing on the cake.”


Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director