‘Our Lady of the Missions’ convent to close Saturday

The landmark residence at 335 Nelson St. here will be the site of a special ceremony Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when its function as a convent for the “Sisters of the Lady of the Missions” officially ends.
The home has served as a convent for 80 years, with some 85 Sisters having passed through it during that time span. The home recently was sold to a local family.
Sr. Hilda Lang, 66, has lived alone at the convent since last May when four others from her religious order moved away to live in seniors’ homes.
It’s been her task to bring everything to conclusion there.
She’ll be joined at Saturday’s ceremony by a handful of Sisters from other centres who once lived at the convent.
“It will be a gathering for friends from the past,” Sr. Hilda said Monday. “There will be scripture and the sharing of memories [and] songs related to this dwelling place.
“It is a lovely home and there is a lot of warmth here,” she stressed.
Sr. Lang said the Sisters also would be forming a human chain and walking through the house singing “This Tough Spun Web” as part of the closure.
After the ceremony, the Sisters plan to visit Rainycrest Home for the Aged, where they will celebrate the 90th birthday of Sr. Betty Kennedy, who now lives there.
“We will also be celebrating Sr. Betty’s 70 years of religious life,” said Sr. Lang.
Sr. Lang will remain at the convent until the end of next month, when she moves into an apartment here in town. But she plans to remain an active community volunteer at Rainycrest and La Verendrye hospital.