December 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jennifer Roseman, Director of Communications & Development
(509) 474-2395 or (509) 994-5032
For photo availability, contact Jennifer Roseman
Last fall, when the Sisters of Providence announced the closure of Providence Hospitality House, a Seattle emergency shelter for women and children, they indicated there would be “a gathering and ritual to rejoice in the steadfast support of so many … and also to grieve a loss that we all feel deeply.”
That Appreciation & Remembrance Ceremony will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 28, on the Seattle University campus.
The event will begin with a prayer service in the university’s Piggott Auditorium, followed by a reception in the Paccar Atrium. Former Providence Hospitality House staff members, directors, volunteers, donors and residents are invited to join in remembering and celebrating their connections to the single-family house the Sisters of Providence opened in 1979.
Further information is available at (425) 525-3014.
Providence Hospitality House was closed indefinitely in September due to financial and operating challenges. It provided living space for up to three families at a time. The 24-hour staffing provided referral services for women to access benefits, employment and housing. Women and their children stayed there from a few days to eight weeks.
Sojourner Place, founded in 1987, is the other ministry in Seattle that is sponsored by Providence Pariseau.
Located in a former convent, it can house up to 11 women at any time. Onsite staff provides weekly case management and life skills classes to help the women stabilize their lives. Women can stay there for from a few months to two years. Providence Pariseau plans to develop a 3- to 5-year plan to offer a place of ministry to women and children, including the possibility of seeking a partnership.