Sale of Retreat Center vintage items was a win-win

Hundreds of people came to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph campus at Maple Mount, Ky., on Saturday, March 26, 2022. They wanted to take home some of the furniture and myriad other items for sale in the Auditorium and Gift Shop. There were many “treasures” to be found, according to Sister Amelia Stenger, congregational leader. Mount Saint Joseph Academy alumnae came for the prayer kneelers, vanity mirrors, and other items they remembered from their school days. The Passionist Nuns of St. Joseph Monastery, Whitesville, Ky., came to seek out affordable furniture for their facility which is under renovation. Others with connections to the Ursuline Sisters were searching for mementoes, while some area residents came looking for bargains.

It was almost wall-to-wall items and people for the first two hours, although shoppers arrived steadily throughout the day from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. The Gift Shop was also a popular place, with most of the inventory reduced to half price. Several Ursuline Sisters, Ursuline Associates and employees helped at the sale, including the Finance office which manned the checkout tables. Students from the Brescia University men’s basketball team, accompanied by their coach, Sarah Gayler, helped buyers load items into their vehicles. Workers were given doughnuts for breakfast as well as chili dogs, potato chips, cookies, and tea and lemonade for lunch.

The one-day sale was a win for the shoppers, as well as a win for the Ursuline Sisters, who were glad to clear out their large building (former Mount Saint Joseph Academy/Conference and Retreat Center) that is slated to be deconstructed. Sister Pam Mueller, a member of the Ursuline Leadership Council, said she was happy the Sisters could divest of some belongings while at the same time allowing others to use and enjoy them. (Prior to the sale, some items were given away, such as beds to area homeless shelters and dining room dishes to Brescia, which was founded by the Ursuline Sisters.)

The word had gotten out about the sale, which was featured on the front page of the Messenger-Inquirer that week.

Here are pictures of the successful sale:

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