Though the role of the sisters is now a ministry of prayer amongst the residents at the facility, Sister Jane said she and the other sisters still feel inspired by the legacy of their foundress, St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier.

"Her watch-word, her legacy, if you will, to us was 'a person is of more value than a world' and we have always lived out of that saying, shall I say. So that no matter where we encounter people -- whether it is in active ministry, in a social situation, so also in this situation -- a person is of more value than a world," Sister Jane said.

This year, Cummings Foundation is among the larger donors in direct financial grants to other Catholic entities within the archdiocese. In addition to building the convent, the Woburn-based foundation has formally made grants of $100,000 each to both Catholic Charities and Catholic Charities-North, as well as to Emmanuel College, Catholic Schools Foundation, and Nativity Preparatory School in Jamaica Plain.

Kathy Chinappi, RN, the lay administrator for the convent for the last 10 years, noted, "The relationship with Cummings Foundation has always been wonderful. New Horizons truly is home for the sisters."