Feature

SMALL STEPS LEAD TO GIANT LEAPS AS VILLA ST. JOSEPH OPENS ITS DOORS

By LOU PONSI     7/1/2025

THROUGH PRAYER AND reflection and with their core values of love, generosity, community presence, hospitality and hope as their guiding force, the Sisters of St. Joseph embarked on an ambitious effort to serve some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Inspired some 15 years ago as a way to celebrate the sisters’ 100th anniversary, the goal was achieved recently in the form of an affordable housing community for low-income seniors.

Aptly named Villa St. Joseph, the three-story, 50-unit housing community features 43 one-bedroom units, six studios and one two-bedroom unit and is constructed in the Motherhouse, the sisters’ former residence.

Built in 1958, the Motherhouse had not been used as a residence for the sisters since 2015.

“Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange address the unmet needs found in the neighborhoods they serve, collaborating alongside others, and then when things are established, they let it go for others to carry the good works forward,” said Robert Cogswell, communications director for the congregation. “Villa St. Joseph is a supersized example of this because it meant letting go of a place that was integral to the life of the congregation for decades. Some people needed it more.”

With community leaders, partners on the project, Villa St. Joseph residents and a contingent of sisters in attendance, a dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of the project was held in the courtyard adjacent to the transformed Motherhouse on June 4.

Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, opened the ceremony with bible verse from Luke 10:23.

“‘Blessed are the eyes that see what (we) see,” Sister Ingham said. “I cannot help but begin by quoting from Scripture. Our founder, Jesuit Fr. Jean-Pierre Médaille, encouraged us to find the needs in our area, find the people with whom we can respond and do all we can to meet those needs. With you, our neighbors and friends, we continue to reach out to serve those most in need of housing and a home. Together let us pray that St. Joseph will bless this house and all who will live and serve here.”

Villa St. Joseph resident Richard Protheroe had spent many years on the street before making his way to the new community.

Protheroe, who addressed the attendees at the ceremony, lives in a one-bedroom apartment with his dog, Halia.

“I never in my wildest dreams imagined I’d be privileged enough to live in such a beautiful facility,” Protheroe said. “And we have some great neighbors here, and as you see there’s a garden out front growing. There’s a real home here.”

The $38 million renovation was funded through public-private partnerships, including $16.3 million from United-Health Group, $6.1 million from Orange County, $5.6 million from the state, and $5.7 million from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.

Mercy Housing, a nonprofit serving low- and moderate-income populations, manages Villa St. Joseph and is partnering with the OC Health Care Agency to provide residents with a variety of services, including crisis intervention, case management and substance abuse services.

“This project would not have been possible without the vision and unwavering commitment of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange,” said Tiffany Bohee, president of Mercy Housing California. “In addition to thoughtfully opening the Motherhouse to become the affordable homes we celebrate today, they played a critical role in financing Villa St. Joseph. Their generosity and collaboration were truly foundational to this effort.”

The California Building Industry Association and the Pacific Coast Building Institute honored Villa St. Joseph with a Gold Nugget Award for Best Renovated, Restored or Adaptive Reuse Residential Project.

“For me, this is a sign that God is alive in our hearts and in our neighborhoods,” Sr. Mary Beth said. “Small steps are really big leaps. The power of people of good-will is evident in the number of partners who came together to make this a reality.”