Earlier this year, the Dominican Sisters of Peace announced they will be closing their Motherhouse in Great Bend by the end of 2026, after decades of serving Kansas and the Catholic church in the area. Among those relocating to other congregational communities are eight sisters who currently receive care in the Great Bend infirmary.
On Monday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 7, the Great Bend Fire Department is helping those sisters. The eight needing special medical care are relocating from Great Bend to either Columbus, Ohio, or Catharine, Ky. They will be taking a chartered private plane funded through a grant from Support Our Aging Religious (SOAR!). The sisters will be helped onto the plane by members of the Great Bend Fire Department.
The eight sisters have varying health concerns or mobility issues that would make relocation by car very uncomfortable and pose a risk to the sisters’ well-being. Through a generous grant from SOAR!, the sisters will fly with caregivers on a private plane to their new residences – either Sansbury Care Center in Kentucky or Mohun Care Center in Ohio. Both residences are licensed care centers operated by the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
The move is also made possible with help from the Great Bend Municipal Airport and Silver Air Private Jets.
The Dominican Sisters of Peace also invite the public to their open house from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25 at the Motherhouse, 3600 Broadway in Great Bend. Enjoy refreshments along with photos, tours of the facility, and memorabilia showing the contribution the sisters have made on the community over the years. The open house is free and open to the public. A second open house will be held on Sunday, September 27.