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Welcoming diversity of cultures and backgrounds,
Jubilee House is a place for learning and sharing, located in the South End of Hartford, Connecticut. |
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Sr. Maris Stella Hickey
Office: 860-247-3030
Fax: 860-548-9635
Email: jubilee.house@hartnet.org
40 Clifford Street
Hartford, Ct 06114 |
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The Founding Director of Jubilee House
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Sister Maris Stella Hickey
When Sister Maris Stella Hickey toured the red-brick building at 40 Clifford
Street in 1995, she saw to her dismay a facility that had fallen into complete
disrepair, both inside and out. But she also saw an opportunity to create a
community center in the south end of Hartford.
It really did look like an abandoned building, but at the same time it had so
much potential, she said. It was built in 1962 as a residence for our sisters
who taught at St. Augustine School, and it really is a beautiful building.
In 1980, after the parish sold the property to the State of Connecticut, it was
used as a group home for adults until 1995. That was the yea r that Sr. Maris
Stella was on sabbatical from her position as Executive Director of the U.S.
Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. I was looking for a new ministry, and
the principal of St. Augustine School asked me if I thought we could make the
convent into a community center. I was so happy to have an opportunity to do
something for the city that I said yes immediately.
Sr. Maris Stella grew up in Hartford, a short distance from what has since
become Jubilee House, and attended St. Augustine School in the days when it had
a thousand students. After graduating from Mount Saint Joseph Academy and
entering the Sisters of St. Joseph, she completed her college and graduate
studies. She taught at South Catholic High School in its early days before
leaving for Rome to work for six years at the international center of the
Sisters of St. Joseph there. After traveling for many years as part of her
work, she found the idea of coming back to Hartford a very appealing one.
Today Jubilee House is a place of bustling activity, providing a welcoming
environment for a variety of programs and gatherings. Sr. Maris Stella is
enthusiastic about its role in the south end: Its exciting to have so many
things going on for the benefit of the people of Hartford.
Jubilee House is always looking for new ways to respond to the needs of the city
and its people and warmly welcomes old friends and new to visit the former
convent. |
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