Dear Parishioners,

Over 50 years ago the good Dominican Sisters built an eight-room convent by St. Joseph’s Hospital to house the sisters that served in the hospital. About 30 years ago the Hospital was expanded and the convent was moved to the property of St. Mary’s with the provision that if the sisters would not need the convent, the ownership of the convent would revert to the parish. Sr. Mary was the last sister to live there and she vacated some years ago. It was then decided that the priest serving this area would live in Chewelah and the Rectory in Valley was sold.

The priests started living in the old convent with some minor improvements. However, nothing significant had been done to update the house in over 50 years and the pink carpet had become a “classic.” It is the intention of the Bishop that there be a proper and decent Rectory for the priest serving the parishes in this area. So, over a year ago plans were made to convert the old convent into a proper Rectory.

It was suggested that since we had the space, we make a place for an additional priest to stay either short-term or perhaps even to retire here. Whit Baker, a parishioner with experience in design, helped come up with a design to convert the convent into a Rectory. With the help of his wife Shirley, they came up with a beautiful plan. Thank you, Whit and Shirley! I then contracted with Julian Taylor, a local contractor who had just finished the renovation work on the old St. Mary’s School. The contract was time and materials. Whit was very helpful in the initial ordering of most of the materials for the project and I was going to Home Depot at least once a week.

As of the new year, the Rectory is finally finished and I can’t be happier! It was very difficult living in a house that was under construction for so long, with the constant dust and having to constantly move things around. There were some unexpected costs that pushed the project over the initial estimate for the project including a new furnace and large support beams.

This new Rectory is a great asset for our Parishes. We now have a proper Rectory for the priest(s) who will serve the parishes of South Stevens County for many years to come. I was already asked if we could host a seminarian this summer and I said yes, since we now have a place for him. We also have a place to host guests, parish meetings and other events. Thank you Janet Goulet for being a great host to visiting priests and seminarians this past year during the rectory’s renovation.

I want to especially thank the Holy Ghost community. It was the proceeds of the sale of the Rectory in Valley that made this renovation project possible.

I would also like to invite everyone to an Open House and Blessing of the Rectory by Bishop Daly on Sunday, Feb. 18. The Bishop will celebrate the 10 am mass at St. Mary’s and then we will go over to the Rectory for the Blessing followed by a reception.