The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist community has signed an agreement to purchase the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center property in Washington, DC to be used as a House of Studies for the rapidly growing Roman Catholic convent in Ann Arbor Township.

The agreement is currently in the inspection phase, according to a statement by Mother Mary Assumpta Long, prioress general of the community.

The property, located adjacent to The Catholic University of America, will be adapted to serve as a residence and house of studies for the Dominican Sisters, accommodating up to approximately 25 women continuing their education in teaching, administration or theology.

The Dominican Sisters send members to several small mission locations in Arizona, California, Florida, South Carolina and Texas for training and teaching, said Sister Maria Gemma Martek, spokesperson for the Sisters of Mary.

Martek said candidates for sisterhood spend three initial years at the convent in Ann Arbor living in community, studying religion and beginning their spiritual formation. After three years, the women take temporary vows and embark on (or continue) their preparation to become certified educators. After receiving education degrees and certifications, the women come back to the "Motherhouse" to continue their eight-year journey to the final vows of sisterhood.

Due to the rapid growth of the Sisters of Mary community, with 22 new postulates this year entering at an average age of 21, the Sisters had been planning to centralize the professional education and training component "in a setting where their spiritual formation and community life could continue to flourish," said Martek. Discussions began this year when they heard news the property might become available.

The community is purchasing the property from the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit for an undisclosed purchase price. The funding comes from a combination of teaching stipends and donations from "wonderful people across the country who support our mission," said Martek.

Long made the following statement:

"We believe that the ultimate acquisition of this building, currently housing the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, represents an opportunity that is aligned with the visions of our community, Pope John Paul II and the Archdiocese of Detroit. It is a wonderful way to build upon the intention of the Center to bring the message of His Holiness to contemporary culture and promote vocations, and it provides yet another connection to his influence in our community and the incredibly generous donors to all these venerable institutions."

Watch a video on the Dominican Sisters of Mary community and its plans for the House of Studies below: