Mount Augustine and the St. Joseph Statue
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine
Perhaps you’ve heard the old superstition that if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you should bury a statue of St. Joseph on the property for good luck. While some consider it nothing but hogwash, it seemed to work for the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine when they built their new motherhouse!
The CSA Sisters originally came to Cleveland, OH from France in 1851. For many years, they had resided in Lakewood, OH. But by about 1950, it was becoming apparent that their convent was inadequate for a growing religious community involved in a variety of ministries. And so, the search for a new Motherhouse began.
Tom Schmidt, one of the Sisters’ drivers, noticed that the 354-acre Newton Farm in Richfield, OH was for sale. Richfield was an ideal location for the Sisters, who had ministries in Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and other surrounding cities. It was even close to the airport, as the Sisters had ministries in South Carolina. Plans were made, funds were raised, and the Sisters buried a statue of St. Joseph for good luck! The sale was a success, and the Sisters moved into their new Mt. Augustine Motherhouse on March 16th, 1955.
Over the years, Mt. Augustine continued to grow and adapt alongside the community. A large house that had previously stood at the driveway entrance of the farm was moved across the street. It still stands there today, still occupied by the family who purchased it. In 1964, St. Joseph Hall was constructed, adding 95 rooms. Mt. Augustine was designated as a Peace Site in 1991. Through the assistance of Sr. Pat McHale, CSJ, the property was classified as an official Wildlife Habitat Site in 2004. The land is considered a wetland, and supports a variety of plants and wildlife: herds of deer, snakes, turkey vultures, coyotes, and even blue herons.
The most significant change began in the late 1980’s. The Sisters realized that there was a growing need to provide healthcare for aging members of religious communities. Through a monumental, collaborative effort involving 22 communities, the Sisters converted part of their motherhouse into Regina Health Center. RHC was the first of its kind in the country—an intercongregational, collaborative healthcare facility dedicated to serving religious congregations, clergy, and lay persons.
Today, Mt. Augustine/Regina Health Center is home for over 13 religious communities, clergy, and laypeople. Like the collaborative spirit present in WRAC, our building fosters the importance of our shared histories, ministries, and lives in service to a loving God.
And that statue of St. Joseph? The Sisters still have it on display in the archives Heritage Room.
