The Sisters of Mercy—Northeast Community, headquartered in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and Catholic Charities New Hampshire announce that they have finalized the sale and transfer of sponsorship of Warde Health Center in Windham, New Hampshire, from the Sisters of Mercy to Catholic Charities New Hampshire.  Under Catholic Charities New Hampshire, Warde Health Center will remain committed to providing exceptional short-term rehabilitation, long-term skilled nursing and assisted living while continually identifying new opportunities to improve its services to residents.  Catholic Charities New Hampshire owns and operates six other nursing homes across the state and has managed and operated Warde Health Center for more than 17 years.

Located at 21 Searles Road in Windham, New Hampshire, Warde Health Center consists of a licensed nursing home and an assisted living center and originally served as the infirmary of the Sisters of Mercy from 1961 until being designated by the state of New Hampshire as a nursing facility in 1993.  Under the sale and transfer of sponsorship, Catholic Charities New Hampshire assumes control of Warde Health Center, including the building and a parcel of land that has been sub-divided from the larger parcel that now includes Warde Health Center and Searles Castle.  The Sisters of Mercy – Northeast Community retain ownership of Searles Castle and the surrounding property.

The Sisters of Mercy believe that Warde Health Center will flourish under the sponsorship of an organization with a Catholic identity.  “Catholic Charities New Hampshire will carry on the Mercy mission of healthcare for all residents, including our sisters, and the Catholic identity of Warde Health Center,” said Sister Jacqueline Marie Kieslich, RSM, President, Sisters of Mercy—Northeast Community.  “As women of Mercy, we commit our lives to God and our resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in need, particularly women, children and those most vulnerable.”  Sister Marie continued, “We are confident that Catholic Charities New Hampshire shares and will continue our commitment to bringing dignity and justice to the lives of all residents and employees at Warde Health Center.”

Commenting on the sponsorship transfer, Thomas Blonski, president and CEO of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, stated, “We are excited to marry two similar missions and to perpetuate the exceptional care and service for which Warde health center has long been known.”

Regarding future plans for Warde Health, Blonski added: “Warde Health Center will continue its dedicated and exceptional health care with the talented team which has been built over the years. As we look to the future, Catholic Charities and Warde Health Center will continue to meet the emerging health care needs of our community.”

About the Sisters of Mercy:
The Sisters of Mercy — an international community of Roman Catholic women — dedicate their lives to God through vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service.  For more than 180 years, motivated by the Gospel of Jesus and inspired by the spirit of their founder Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy have responded to the continually changing needs of the times. Through prayer and service, the sisters address the causes and effects of violence, racism, degradation of the Earth and injustice to women and immigrants. The sisters sponsor and serve in more than 200 organizations that work with those in need in the U.S., Central and South America, Jamaica, Guam and the Philippines. Learn more about the Sisters of Mercy at www.sistersofmercy.org