(Continued from St. Andrews article on News page)

At 11 a.m. on Feb 11, the center will host a “group vow renewal” in the chapel for couples who want to repeat their marriage vows. There will be no charge for participants but donations will be accepted for the Alzheimer’s Association.

On June 24, St. Andrews will mark the 120th anniversary “to the day” of the first mass in the chapel with a special celebration open to the public. The Catholic Mass will start 10:30 a.m. and will be followed an outdoor reception with light refreshments.

“We made it our goal to be a more vibrant partner in this beautiful residential neighborhood. We have opened our doors and invited our neighbors in to be part of senior community,” said Darcy Hood, who has been executive director since Premier Senior Living began managing the care center.

Hood; Danielski, who is director of programs at the center, and Community Relations Director Rachel Butler discussed the long history of the center and its growing community involvement at a meeting with the Southeast Examiner.

The chapel is the focal point for the center. Since June 2009, it has also been available for weddings for which there is a charge. Most of the center’s programs are free. St. Andrews occupies 2 ½ acres of land, with a large lawn in back for entertainments like the annual Easter Eggs hunt and summer “Concerts on the Green.” The center’s third annual Easter Egg hunt last year <2011>drew 462 participants.

In December, the center held a series of three free Christmas concerts in the chapel, attended by 233 people. There was something for a variety of tastes: Ascension Catholic Choir presenting traditional Christmas hymns, Bodacious Live, a blues, rock‘n’roll, and jazz group, and PDX Vox, performing pop songs with voices playing the parts of instruments.

The center has a special affinity with the Bridger Elementary School, a short distance away on SE Market Street. Three different classes from the school, each with about 25-30 kids, arrive every month from October through May to read to the residents

“This is a wonderful inter-generational activity,” Danielski said in an email. “The children get to read a book they have chosen themselves to share with a resident. This gives them a chance to practice their reading while bonding with one of our residents. Not all of our residents have a chance to see their grandchildren or great grandchildren. This is also gives them an opportunity to help out and have a meaningful experience with the children.”

The care center, an eye-catching landmark at SE Main Street and 76^th Avenue., was known as the Monastery of the Precious Blood when it opened in 1892. In 1922, the current Spanish colonial style monastery was constructed as a convent for the Sisters of the Precious Blood, and the chapel was restored in 1931. In 1984 the monastery was bought by a private owner and converted to a residential care center. In 1985, the Monastery of the Precious Blood was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. In 1986 the four-story structure was renamed as St. Andrews Care Center following extensive renovation.

For more information call 503-257-7946.