April 10, 2007

Renovation of Felician convent underway

A major redevelopment of the Cheektowaga property owned by the Felician Sisters of St. Francis began early this month. The renovation of the campus known as Villa Maria consists of the provincial house convent where the sisters reside (the east wing), and the former Villa Maria Academy (the west wing). A gothic-style Chapel will remain nestled between the two buildings.

The reconstruction project will be done in two phases. Phase One, now underway, will involve the rehabilitation of the sisters’ convent at 600 Doat Street. Contractors estimate it will take 12 months to complete the work. Phase Two, which will begin in early 2008, will be the conversion of the former Villa Maria Academy into 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments for senior citizens. The site will be known as the Villa Maria Senior Living Center. The site plan and rezoning have been approved by the Town of Cheektowaga.

Sister Mary Lorianne Tylczynski, CSSF, provincial minister of Immaculate Heart of Mary Province, said this project underscores the Felicians’ decades long commitment to their neighborhood. “We will continue to have a strong presence in this area of Cheektowaga and East Buffalo,” she said. “We will continue to reside here and will increase our ministry to the neighborhood.

“When the project is complete, we hope to establish new outreach programs and open a spiritual life center to minister to the neighborhood. We will continue to live out the charism of our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, ‘A call to service, service motivated by love of God, service to gain souls for Christ, through a total self-giving in corporal and spiritual works of mercy,’” Sister Lorianne added.

Initial construction activity includes the removal of various asbestos material contained in the east wing. That work should be finished by the end of April.

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