Throughout our history, the Congregation, relying strongly on the Providence of God to lead us, has always provided for the care of our senior sisters who are fragile or ill. In our very early days they were cared for in local communities or at St. Joseph's Hospital.

In 1925, Mrs. Agnes Alien Glennon, an alumna of St. John's Academy, Pittston, PA arranged for the purchase of the Connell Estate in Elmhurst, PA for $50,000. The property was purchased and named St. Agnes Place in Mrs. Glennon's honor and served as the IHM retirement residence for thirty-one years.

As early as 1944 Mother Marcella was concerned about the growing needs of our aged and infirm Sisters and had begun to save money and conceive a plan for a much needed residence closer to the heart of Marywood. She obtained permission first from Bishop Hafey and subsequently from  Bishop Hannan to erect a new convent to care for the needs  of our aging sisters.

Accordingly, ground was broken Oct. 7, 1954 for the original wing of the Marian Convent. The building which would offer accommodations for 80 Sisters was estimated to cost $1,142,000. Unfortunately, Mother Marcella did not live to see the completion of the original wing that was dedicated on April 9, 1956—a little less than 50 years ago.

On April 16, 1956 the new reality of life and professional care at the Marian Convent began when twenty-eight Sisters moved from St. Agnes Place. On April 23, thirteen Sisters were moved from St. Joseph's Hospital to the Marian.

Maximum occupancy of the original wing of the Marian Convent was reached in seven years and discussion of construction of an additional wing took shape. Mother Beata described to the Chapter of 1968 the plans to build fifty additional sleeping rooms, offices and a pharmacy. Work on this wing began in the fall of 1968. As usual, funding for this wing was not easy. Msgr. Madden, representative of the Diocese of Scranton, commented in a letter to Mother Beata, "I hope that someone leaves the Marian Convent a substantial legacy to help you with your financial problems."

However, the new wing was completed early in 1971 and was blessed by Bishop McCormick on Jan. 20, just one month before the Marywood Motherhouse fire of Feb. 22, 1971. Again, the Providence of God can be seen as the Marian Convent opened its doors of hospitality to many of those sisters displaced by the fire.

Over the next 35 years, many changes, innovations and renovations occurred, all coming in God's good time and all blest by Providence. The Marian became known as a Powerhouse of Prayer and was recognized throughout the area as having the best and most loving care and an incredibly dedicated staff. The Marian Convent has cared for the medical, spiritual, social and personal needs of the sisters and their families and has been a beloved institution and a house of warm hospitality for the past 50 years.