Servants of Mary Transition

When the convent was fully operational for residential, communal and administrative space, there were over 40 sisters living on-site. 

Gradually, the number of sisters living at the convent declined due to the need for greater care. In early 2024, there were 23 sisters living at the convent, with the average age being 82. Anticipating their evolving needs, the sisters developed a plan that would provide continued financial support and ensure that they could remain together as a community even as their individual care needs changed. 

In 2024, the sisters started transitioning from the convent to the Immanuel Senior Living campus, a faith-based community with a full continuum of care from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing support. 

The Servants of Mary began moving from the convent as openings became available at Immanuel Senior Living. The transition began in April 2024 and was expected to take nearly two years. In reality, it occurred much quicker, and all 23 sisters who resided at the convent relocated to Immanuel by April 2025.

According to Sr. Lisa Sheridan, OSM US/Jamaica/Canada Community Prioress, the Servants of Mary spent three years studying care options and chose Immanuel because their values align most closely with those of the Servants of Mary. Immanuel is also the only not-for-profit facility in Omaha that has the three levels of living that were needed—independent, assisted and skilled nursing care.

Furthermore, community is an essential value for the Servants of Mary. All three levels of care are on the same campus and are physically connected so community is more readily available. Additionally, Immanuel offers a diverse community with the opportunity to live with lay men and women from all walks of life, as well as with other women religious. 

Marian purchased the convent and grounds in 2019.

We are currently exploring options for the convent that could expand our students' educational, college and career opportunities. To date, we have:

• Held listening sessions with our leadership team and faculty to determine what is best for the future of our school. 
• Met with community leaders at local universities to discover areas of need and key differentiators that would prove to be an asset for young women in our community. 
• Consulted with architects and engineers and discovered that while the convent is well-maintained, it is not easily adaptable to the educational needs of a modern high school. 
•  A building committee is conducting a needs assessment for Marian that aligns with our mission of educating young women.

Once our needs assessment is complete and approved by our board, we look forward to sharing plans with our broader community.

We have everything the Servites dreamed of for Marian and brought to reality, so we can be truly innovative and visionary as we as we consider what’s next.

As the number of teaching sisters gradually declined, Marian began to intentionally develop programs and initiatives to preserve the Servite culture. Today the Servite values are shared in the following ways:

• Formalizing Marian's core values, which are rooted in Servite values.
• Servants of Mary leadership serve on the Marian High School Board of Directors.
• Training of lay faculty and staff in Servite history and values.
• Educating students on the Servants of Mary history within the freshman theology curriculum.
• Continuing a grief ministry program to foster a compassionate presence among alumnae and their families.
• Incorporating a Servite reflection at all-school Masses.

Guided by our five-year strategic plan, we continue to incorporate Servite charisms and culture in our faith initiatives.