Boston and Ipswich 1973

By the early 1970s, Massachusetts Province membership had again grown to more than 1,000 sisters. Besides this, the enormous changes in the post Vatican church and in American civic culture together had an important impact on religious life.  The Massachusetts  Province was again divided, and in 1973  the Ipswich Province and the Boston Provinces were established.  Ministries and community residences were assigned to each province, and the sisters were free to choose a province.  

The Ipswich Province had its base in Ipswich, in what had been the provincial residence for Massachusetts.  It drew its approximately 650 sisters from both ends of the age spectrum, with a large number of elderly sisters. They maintained and developed a number of large schools, religious education programs and a large licensed institution for the care of the elderly and infirm sisters. 

The Boston Province had its base in Boston and later in Everett. It had about 350 sisters with a large number of middle-aged sisters, as well as a mix of younger and older members. The Province maintained a number of schools and several newer ministries.   

From the beginning, sisters from both provinces worked together in a certain number of ministries. And, over time, there was an increasing number of communities in which they lived together.  They also shared responsibility for Emmanuel College. 

Since the 1990s several projects have commenced for which both provinces are jointly responsible. These undertakings, known as BO/IP projects, include sponsorship of a new high school, a retirement and health care community at Ipswich, joint Archives, and several other large and small projects. They also work with the Connecticut province to sponsor in Worcester a large assisted living and long term care center which serves the members of the three provinces as well as the local community.