SAVE OUR PROPERTY:

SAY NO TO EMINENT DOMAIN!

 

This is our home, our place in the world, our public identity. Our presence and our work are associated with this beautiful expansive property. It is a place where we have provided meaningful and even life-changing ministry for thousands upon thousands of men, women and children through the retreats and other spiritual programs offered at the Espousal Retreat House. It is also the home for our retired priests who are no longer capable of continuing in ministry.  We continue to use our property in Waltham as we have for almost 100 years. We wish to continue our ministry here on our property without further interference from the City.

The Mayor’s efforts to acquire the Stigmatine property for the high school have been coercive and relentless. No one is doubting or discounting the need for a new high school in Waltham.  We just don’t believe the City should be able to end our existence here in Waltham because it covets our land for its own use. Nor do we believe any Citizen of Waltham should ever be treated the way Stigmatines have been treated by the City throughout this process.

We invite you to read about the Mayor’s efforts to acquire our property, in context, through our correspondence with the Mayor and Waltham City Council:

1.	Memorandum of Agreement Dated April 11, 2016
2.	Request to the Mayor to communicate her intention to pursue eminent domain and force the Stigmatines to leave unless the Stigmatines agree to sell, dated August 9, 2016, and Mayor’s response
3.	Communication to the City Council prior to May 15, 2017 Council meeting
4.	Communication to the Mayor and City Council prior to June 12, 2017 Council meeting
5.	Communication to the Mayor and City Council following June 12, 2017 Council meeting
6.	Communication to the City Council prior to July 31, 2017 Council Meeting
7.	Letter from Atlantic Management to the City Council prior to the July 31, 2017 Council meeting
8.	Communication to the City Council prior to September 11, 2017 Council Meeting

Our almost centenary property at 554 Lexington Street, in Waltham, MA:

 The recent ceremony of profession of religious Perpetual Vows of Bro. Antonio Lopez: