Skip to content
  • Mass Time Finder
  • Parish Locator
  • Donate
  • Search
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
    • The WINDOW Newsletter
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Pilgrimages
    • Workshops & Seminars
  • Faith
    • About the Catholic Faith
    • People of Mission
    • Advent & Christmas Resources
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Confirmation
      • Eucharist
        • About the Mass
      • The Sacrament of Marriage
        • Steps to Getting Married
        • Marriage Preparation
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
    • Chapel of Perpetual Adoration
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
    • Administration & Offices
      • Accounting and Finance
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
      • Building Services
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Cemeteries
    • Indigenous Relations
      • Catholic Truth and Reconciliation Resources
      • Delegation To Rome – Spring 2022
      • Walking Together: The Papal Apology and Visit of Reconciliation – July 2022
      • Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
        • Grant Application – Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
      • Residential Schools
    • Safe Environment & Abuse Prevention
      • Report Abuse
      • Called to Protect
      • Volunteer Management
    • Youth & Young Adults
      • Activities
      • Camp
      • Schools & Colleges
      • World Youth Day
    • Life & Family
      • Marriage Enrichment
      • Family Planning
      • Grief
      • Courage – Encourage
      • Divorced and Re-married
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations
      • Ecumenical Annual Reports
    • Social Justice
      • Interfaith Housing Initiative
      • No Room in the Inn
      • Development & Peace
    • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
      • Pastoral Care Visitors
      • Chaplains
    • Prison Ministry
    • Papal Blessings
    • Our Lady of Victory Camp
  • Get Involved
    • Find a Career
    • Serve on Parish Council
      • Together in Ministry
    • Homebound & Hospital Visits
      • Pastoral Care Certificate
  • Vocations
    • Priesthood
    • Permanent Diaconate
    • St. Joseph’s Seminary
    • Vocations
    • Consecrated Life
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Together We Serve
      • How Gifts are Shared
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Resources for Parishes
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraising Events
    • Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop
    • Offices & Staff
    • Pastoral Letters
    • Messages & Homilies
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Hope & Dignity: A Catholic Response to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
    • Synod
    • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About
    • Parishes & Mass Times
    • History
      • Coat of Arms
      • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
      • Past Bishops
    • Archives & Records
    • Priests
    • Consecrated Orders
    • Retreat Centres
    • Councils & Committees
      • Lay Associations
    • Schools & Colleges
    • Offices & Staff
    • Careers
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Annual Reports
    • Twin Diocese
  • Contact
  • Find a Mass, Parish, or Priest
  • Mass Time Finder
  • Donate
  • News
    • News
    • Events
    • The WINDOW Newsletter
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Pilgrimages
    • Workshops & Seminars
  • Faith
    • About the Catholic Faith
    • People of Mission
    • Advent & Christmas Resources
    • Sacraments
      • The Sacrament of Marriage
        • Marriage Preparation
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist
        • About the Mass
      • Confirmation
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
    • Chapel of Perpetual Adoration
    • Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
    • Liturgy
  • Ministries & Services
    • Administration & Offices
      • Accounting and Finance
      • Archives and Sacramental Records
        • Registers of Closed, Merged, or Twinned Parishes
      • Building Services
      • Communications
      • Human Resources
      • Information Technology
      • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Cemeteries
    • Indigenous Relations
      • Catholic Truth and Reconciliation Resources
      • Indigenous Delegation to Rome – Spring 2022
      • Papal Visit
      • Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
      • Residential Schools
    • Safe Environments & Abuse Prevention
      • Report Abuse
      • Called to Protect
      • Volunteer Management
    • Youth & Young Adults
      • Activities
      • Camp
      • Schools & Colleges
      • World Youth Day
    • Marriage Enrichment
    • Family Planning
    • Divorced and Re-married
    • Marriage Tribunal (Annulment)
    • Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations (Private)
      • Ecumenical Annual Reports
    • Social Justice
      • Development & Peace
      • Interfaith Housing Initiative
      • No Room in the Inn
    • Hospital & Healthcare Ministry
      • Chaplains
      • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
    • Prison Ministry
    • Papal Blessings
    • Our Lady of Victory Camp
  • Get Involved
    • Careers
    • Together in Ministry
    • Home-bound & Hospitalized Visitations
      • Pastoral Care Certificate
    • Become a Volunteer
  • Vocations
    • Priesthood
      • St. Joseph's Seminary
    • Permanent Diaconate
    • Consecrated Life
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Now
    • Together We Serve
      • Resources for Parishes
      • How Gifts are Shared
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Legacy Giving
    • Faith, Fitness, and Fun Run
    • Newman Golf Classic
    • The Foundation of St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College
  • Archbishop Richard W. Smith
    • Offices & Staff
    • Pastoral Letters
    • Messages & Homilies
    • Upfront Podcast
    • Hope & Dignity: A Catholic response to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
    • Synod on Synodality
    • Archbishop’s Dinner
  • About the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
    • Parish & Mass Times
    • History
      • Coat of Arms
      • Icon of St. Joseph the Worker
      • Past Bishops
    • Priests
    • Consecrated Orders
    • Councils & Committees
      • Lay Associations
    • Schools & Colleges
    • Offices & Staff
    • Careers
    • Policies & Procedures
    • Financial Reports
    • Archives and Sacramental Records
    • Twin Diocese
    • Retreat Centres
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
Parishes & Mass Times
Find Clergy
Donate
Become a Volunteer

Latest News

All News

Local family invests everything into founding global Catholic media mission

A Vegreville family has started a media ministry focused on making Catholic prayer and the Holy Mass accessible to people…
Continue Reading

Upcoming Events

All Events
Life in the Spirit Seminar - D...
2023-12-01
Understanding the Complex Fire...
2023-12-01
Ron Rolheiser Public Lecture "...
2023-12-01

Pastoral and Administration Offices

Office Hours
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday
780-469-1010
1-844-469-1010 (Toll free)
780-465-3003
8421 101 Avenue NW
Edmonton AB T6A 0L1

Lurana Shelter to continue ministry to abused women under Catholic Social Services

06 August 2020

Appears in: Archdiocesan News

The Lurana Shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence has received its own lifeline from Catholic Social Services, which will take over its administration and stave off any threat of potential closure.

“This was a real answer to prayer. For me, I just think our foundress must be smiling from heaven at what is unfolding,” said Sister Lucinda Patterson, board chair of the shelter founded by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement and named after the congregation’s founder, Lurana White.

“It was very important to our congregation, and always incredibly important to us, is our Catholic values and ideals,” Sister Patterson said. “To me the Holy Spirit was moving to make this a possibility. I really have a great deal of respect for CSS.”

Sister Lucinda Patterson

The Edmonton shelter will become a part of CSS in April, a decision two years in the making and approved unanimously by both organizations. Under the new arrangement, CSS will become one the largest providers of services for abused women and children in Edmonton – and perhaps in the province.

“It feels like to us in CSS that it’s a match made in heaven,” said Eoin Murray, director of development and community relations. “The Lurana Shelter has an excellent reputation … They’re having a real impact on changing women’s lives, which is ultimately what we’re both about.

“We will be able to offer women a continuum of care,” Murray added. “Women from the minute they are in an emergency situation all the way to a brand new life are going to be cared for by CSS. And I think that’s really amazing. We’re going to watch women as they move from a dangerous place to a new place of safety. They’ll be able to get a job, they’ll be able to support their kids getting a proper education and being in a loving environment.”

After April, the first contact for abused women and children will continue to be the Lurana Shelter, which is a first-stage, emergency shelter.

Murray said CSS can also offer them a link with La Salle Shelter, a second-stage shelter founded by the Grey Nuns, which helps women take the next steps in the journey toward a stable life without violence. And Katharine Drexel Place helps women find long-term living solutions. Mercy Counselling, and other CSS services, can provide additional help.

“There’s such a gap in the service provision in the city of Edmonton anyway that even if it was a duplication, we still wouldn’t be able to meet the need,” Murray said.

He hopes that supporters of Lurana Shelter will continue to contribute, and noted that they can make a designated donation to the shelter through the CSS Sign of Hope Campaign.

The transition also means the Lurana Shelter will continue to stay open. The Franciscan Sisters have operated the Lurana Shelter since it began 27 years ago, but the sisters are getting older.

“Unfortunately for the sisters, we’re getting fewer and fewer, so this was a real answer to prayer that Catholic Social Services is going to administer the programs,” Sister Patterson said.

The alternative? “We would have had to close the program,” she said. “It definitely is a lifeline. It’s a lifeline for Albertans who are needing this unique support if they are living in domestic violence.”

Alberta has the third highest level of domestic abuse within Canada, according to Statistics Canada.

The need outstrips the number of shelters. Last year, 6,244 women and children were turned away from Edmonton’s three emergency domestic abuse shelters, according to the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters. In Calgary, 7,152 women and children could not find shelter.

As a first-stage facility, Lurana serves women and children arriving immediately from domestic violence situations. Sister Patterson said first-stage shelters have been described as the “domestic violence homicide prevention centres.”

Lurana Shelter serves an estimated 500 to 570 women and children every year. Under COVID-19 restrictions, the shelter can safely house three families and two single women – a change from the 32 women and children the shelter could accommodate before the pandemic.

“I wish we would do our jobs so well that we go out of business,” Sister Patterson said. “Unfortunately I have enough people telling me ‘Keep dreaming, but you’re not going to see it happen.’”

Clients of the Lurana Shelter are not expected to be impacted by the transition. Until April, CSS will be assessing the needs of the shelter. Patterson hopes its programs and 37 staff will continue.

“CSS knows what they’re really good at and they’re going to make sure to not take on anything more than is necessary,” she said. “It’s very easy, especially in the field of domestic violence, for entities to overextend. I think it’s going to be a nice fit and a good transition.”

Sister Patterson said it’s the second big change in the history of the Lurana Shelter, which was originally run by the Franciscan Sisters Benevolent Society. In 2007, the Lurana Shelter Society took over.

Sister Patterson herself is a former director of the Lurana Shelter.

“You never have to be worried that I will be shocked by anything because I did it myself for 17 years. I’m very aware that, when it comes to humans, always expect the unexpected.”

As a congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement is in an “in-between mode” with the sisters aging, and younger women in formation but five to 10 years away from having enough experience for specific ministries, Sister Patterson said. COVID-19 travel restrictions have made that delay even longer.

 

Tags:

abuse Catholic Social Services domestic violence Franciscan Sisters of Atonement Lurana Lurana Shelter Lurana White shelter women

Recent Posts

  • Archdiocesan News

    Local family invests everything into founding global Catholic media mission
    November 29, 2023

    A Vegreville family has started a media ministry focused on making Catholic prayer and the Holy Mass accessible to people…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Long-awaited celebration with Archbishop at “undaunted” Innisfail parish after tragic loss
    November 28, 2023

    Over the weekend of November 26, Archbishop Richard Smith made a pastoral visit to the community of Our Lady of…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Catholic Survey on Medical Assistance in Dying
    November 16, 2023

    The Archdiocese of Edmonton invites you to participate in a survey on Medical Assistance in Dying. We are hoping to…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    Prepare your hearts and marriages through the hope of Advent
    November 15, 2023

    “The season of Advent, restores this horizon of hope, a hope which does not disappoint for it is founded on…

    Continue Reading

  • Archdiocesan News

    St. Gregory the Great parish in Holden to close
    October 31, 2023

    With great sadness, the Archdiocese of Edmonton accepts the decision of the St. Gregory the Great community to close the…

    Continue Reading

Pastoral & Administration Offices
8421 101 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6A 0L1
Phone: 780-469-1010
Toll-free: 1-844-469-1010
Privacy Information
Terms of Use
2023 Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton