The Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity, presently located in Fond du Lac, Wis., is looking forward to a new work and a new house.

Sr. Maria, superior of the order, said that the Diocese of West Virginia has requested sisters to live and work there. The new work, planned to begin in 2000, currently envisions sisters living year-round in a house on the grounds of the Sandscrest Conference and Retreat Center near Wheeling, and having a presence through the summer at Peterkin, a camp and conference center of the diocese, located in Romney.

The community already knew that the present convent building is far too large. With the call from West Virginia, its members decided to move, ultimately making it easier for them to carry on their work. The sisters, along with a group of advisors, decided to replace the summer "cottage" on their Green Lake, Wis., property with a new building. Sr. Maria said the new building, named Bethlehem-by-the-Lake, will not be a convent. "It will be a religious house, with the chapel forming the center of our life there," she said.

Completion of Bethlehem-by-the-Lake is expected in the spring of 1999. However, the sisters will not officially move to the new house until after the entire community gathers in the Fond du Lac convent one last time for their long retreat in October.

"We are all excited about moving to our new home," Sr. Maria said. "We are thankful to be able to respond to (the Diocese of) West Virginia and look forward to the possibility of new ministries in other places."