A carved wooden crucifix, featuring Christ holding a dove (doves are traditionally associated with Passionist nuns nestled in Christ’s wounds), is seen in the newly constructed chapter room of St. Joseph Monastery in Whitesville. COURTESY OF BLAND FAMILY
Passionists host open house to celebrate expanded facilities
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On April 26 and 27, the Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery held an open house to showcase the expanded facilities in their cloister, located in Whitesville.
Their building campaign, called Cherish the Flame, launched in 2019, following a 2018 assessment that indicated a need to improve the living spaces and overall sustainability for the nuns’ growing community. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain and labor shortages, and economic strain, the fundraising goal became $5.4 million after continued reassessments of construction/renovation needs.
To the nuns’ delight and gratitude, the entire project was near completion when they welcomed Bishop William F. Medley to bless the chapter room (a sacred meeting space) and refectory (dining room) in the morning of April 26. While the kitchen itself is still being finished, most of the other areas have been completed and are already being utilized by the nuns.
The main focus of the project was the construction of the Holy Family Wing, which includes the chapter room; a new community room; an exercise room; and a much-needed storage room. Renovations also include a new Spanish tile roof to replace the 20-years’ worth of damage to the old one; the new refectory; the addition of traditional covered walkways; and improvements to the retreat house.
Follow the project’s progress and donate to the campaign at www.passionistnuns.org/cherish-the-flame.
In this photo from fall 2024, Sr. Cecilia Maria, Sr. Mary Veronica, and Sr. Bethany Marie enjoy discussing the scriptures in the cloister’s new portico (covered porch) on the new Holy Family Wing. COURTESY OF PASSIONIST NUNS
One of the custom-designed stained glass windows in the chapter room (sacred meeting space) of St. Joseph Monastery on April 26, 2025. COURTESY OF BLAND FAMILY
The nuns fittingly had their first supper in the new refectory (dining room) on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025. COURTESY OF PASSIONIST NUNS
Originally printed in the May 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
