Villa Madonna up for sale

By Julie Collins
Cape BretPost
March 18, 2014

http://www.capebretonpost.com/section/2014-03-18/article-3654214/Villa-Madonna-up-for-sale/1

Villa Madonna Renewal Centre in Little Bras d'Or.

The diocese had to take out a loan to fulfill its obligations under a class-action settlement with survivors of sexual abuse by priests.

All of the payments have been made in the class-action lawsuit. But in order to cover the payment of the loan, sales of property go toward covering the diocesan debt.

The diocese had to raise $15 million for the settlement of a class-action lawsuit with the alleged victims of sexual abuse from the 1950s to 2009. Another $3 million was raised to cover potential lawsuit costs of individual actions against the church.

"To my understanding there will be no more programs offered at Villa Madonna," explained dioscean spokesman Rev. Donald MacGillivray. "The future of the programs is still under consideration, they are working on that."

According to its website, Villa Madonna Renewal Centre was operated by the Diocese through the Diocesan Pastoral Centre. Since it opened, there has been a steady demand for the facilities with as high as 2,000 people a year using the building.

The centre, which overlooks the water, was also available to parishes and other church organizations for their own programming.

Stewart LeForte, who has managed the renewal centre for just over 28 years, isn't sure what his future holds.

"It's been a pleasure and a priviledge to have met so many people over the years," LeForte said. "People who were sincerely seeking God, and to form friendships of various kinds was an honor.”

The building, overlooking Bras dOr, was at one time an orphanage.

According to CanadaArchives.ca, The Little Flower Institute was established in 1927 at Bras d'Or by the Diocese of Antigonish and was operated by the Sisters of St. Martha. Prior to its founding, the sisters were already working in the area, operating a small school. The Sacred Heart Convent was erected in 1927 to accommodate the incoming sisters, and the sisters who were already teaching in the area. In 1953 the orphanage was destroyed by fire. It was decided to repair the building and have it serve as a retreat house, primarily for women.

“We have to pay tribute to the Sisters of St. Martha who ministered here when it was an orphanage with upwards of 90 children, from newborns to teenagers,” said Leforte. “Also, when it was turned into a retreat house, they continued to minister here and in the community. The Sisters of St. Martha are really the backbone of the institution.”

The sisters moved to a smaller residence on Shore Road in Sydney Mines in 1985.