Sisters Academy to Open in September 2004

On September 7, 2004, Sisters Academy of Baltimore will open at its temporary site at 901 Hollins Street in southwest Baltimore. This site is near St. Peter the Apostle Church, within the Tri-Parish Catholic Community, formerly the three parishes of St. Peter’s, St. Martin’s, and St. Jerome’s. Until thirty years ago, all three of these parishes had schools; however, with the onslaught of factory closings, extreme poverty, drugs and crime, all three of these Catholic schools closed leaving an overwhelming educational gap. The parishes consolidated to form the “Tri-Parish Catholic Community” with one priest, who continues to minister with the communities. It was the pastor and parishioners of this tri-parish community who asked the religious communities to found a new Catholic school. In response to this plea, four congregations of religious women – School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN of Base Communities, Chesapeake and Maryland units), Sisters of Bon Secours (CBS) and Sisters of Mercy (RSM) – have committed their time, energy and resources to founding a Catholic school for girls in the hope of educating leaders who will contribute to the revitalization of southwest Baltimore city.