Phila. Archdiocese Selling 7 Nursing Homes and Senior Facilities
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has reached an agreement to sell nursing homes and senior-living facilities it operates in the five-county area.
It's a significant development that would net the financially troubled church in Philadelphia some $95 million.
Seven nursing facilities operated by Catholic Health Care Services are affected by this transaction. They are being sold to Center Management Group, of Flushing, NY.
The affected properties are:
Immaculate Mary Home, Saint Monica Manor, and Saint John Neumann Home, all nursing homes in Philadelphia. Also, Saint Francis Country House, a nursing home in Darby, Delaware County; and Saint Martha Manor, a nursing home in Downingtown, Chester County.
Also included in the transaction are Villa Saint Martha, in Downingtown, Chester County; and Saint Mary Manor, in Lansdale, Montgomery County. Both of those are senior living communities, which have assisted and independent living components.
Under the agreement, Center Management agrees that all residents will be allowed to remain in the facilities, regardless of payor status (that is, private or government payments), and employees will be retained and offered positions within the facilities.
Archdiocese spokesman Ken Gavin says another important condition in the sale is the retention of Catholic identity.
"Center management is going to retain Roman Catholic priests as chaplains at each of these facilities, and they'll do that at their own expense. So, the chaplains will be there, daily and Sunday mass will still be celebrated. Chaplains will still administer other sacraments at the homes, and they will be there to provide pastoral care to residents," Gavin tells KYW Newsradio.
Gavin says it's expected the transaction will close before the end of the year.
He says a substantial portion of the net proceeds, roughly $95 million, will be used to cover a number of underfunded liabilities the archdiocese has, including pensions for priests and lay employees.
