The Tribune

“STANDING on the shoulders of his ancestors,” Vicar Forane in the Bahamas, Father Hildebrand Eishhoff, diligently toiled to increase membership in the newly established Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to being a hard worker, Father Hildebrand, who followed the lead of Father Chrysostom Schreiner, was also a visionary. He envisioned the birth of a native community of religious women who would assist in nurturing the spiritual, physical and educational needs of the fast growing Catholic community in the Bahamas.

His dream became a reality in 1936 when three young Bahamian women – Sisters Maria Rahming, Theresa Symonette and Elizabeth Claridge — obeyed God’s call and began instructions necessary for becoming members of the Religious Community. Father Hilderbrand’s dream for establishing this community of Sisters were rekindled and nurtured by Bishop Bernard Kevenhoerster, Vicar Apostolic of the Bahamas. Bishop Bernard bought the Polhemus House on Nassau Street, in the Bain Town area.

Polhemus House was converted into St. Joseph’s school. However, because of the school’s rapid expansion, Cardinal William O’Connell of Boston came on the scene and financially assisted with the growth of the new Catholic community.

St Joseph’s School was moved below the hill from Polhemus House and Polhemus House was used as a novitiate for the native Sisters. Further financial assistance was given by Bishop Joseph Bush of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, which helped with the purchase of 50 acres of the Polhemus Estate.

Now some 77 years later, this very historic building is badly in need of repair. It would be cheaper to demolish the building but given its rich history and at the request of Antiquities Monuments and Museum Corporation, restoration is underway.

As in the past, financial assistance is needed, hence the project of fundraising, in the form of steak-outs.

Over the past four years the Sisters have held several fund raising events to raise the $500,000 needed for the project. The community hopes to raise about $30,000 at the steak-out planned for July 19 to be held from noon to 6pm on the grounds of St Martin de Porres Monastery on Nassau Street.

Sister Mary Benedict said that the Sisters have also been writing letters to “various corporations, letting them know the history of the building and what we intend to do with it. We also asked them if they would be able to assist us.

“We hope the public comes out to support us and help us for the cause. We are also looking for donations to assist us for the steak out,” Sister Mary Benedict added.

It is hoped that the renovations, which started in November 2013, will be completed by the end of August.

The restored building will revert to being a Formation House, where young women would discern and be instructed to become members of Saint Martin Monastery. This building will also serve as a Retreat Centre, a centre where persons could spend time to enhance their relationship with God, in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.

This project is being spearheaded by architect Anthony Jervis and contractor, Leagester Charlow and their teams.

In 1962, the Sisters of St Martin joined the Benedictine Community of St Benedict’s Convent of St Joseph, Minnesota. They became a part of a great Monastic Community with a tradition that dates its origin to the sixth century following the rule and customs of its founder, St Benedict, and his twin sister, Scholastica, in the Caves of Subiaco, Italy. St Martin’s became an independent Monastery in 1994.