St. Joseph's Convent

As a new Community, we have many “firsts”. First Convent. First Perpetual Profession. First Chapel that wasn’t originally a living room.  And one such “first” is the establishment of a mission Convent separate from Mater Dei, our Motherhouse. ​

While we have referenced our mission, St. Joseph’s Convent in Ferndale, California, we wanted to tell the story of how our Humboldt County mission began and where it is now. 

​Since we were founded for the spiritual benefit of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, we have always wanted to have a greater presence throughout the whole of our diocese, although the breadth of territory it spans –Petaluma to the Oregon border, over 300 miles– has made that a challenge. 

Since 2015, we have been invited annually to Assumption Parish in Ferndale to visit the CCD classrooms and spend time with the faithful of the parish who dreamed of someday having the presence of Marian Sisters at their parish. 

​In 2023, we heard that a Convent near Assumption Parish was up for sale. Ferndale is a picturesque small town in a dairy farming community, about three and a half hours from our Motherhouse in Santa Rosa. Its proximity to cities in the northern half of our diocese such as Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna and its position as a “half-way point” to further northern communities such as Crescent City, made it the perfect launching pad for mission work. 

​Situated next door to Assumption Parish, St. Joseph's Convent was built for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1964 but only housed the Sisters for four years before they moved south in 1968. After this, the Convent was sold and served multiple and varied functions over the years. It was a nursing home, bed & breakfast inn “The Priory”, and family home. 

​When we acquired it, the Convent had been empty for several years and needed extensive cleaning and updating. Gratefully, many friends, old and new, pitched in to help us. ​By fall of 2025, the Convent was ready and we were ready to establish a more consistent presence, so we began to go up once a month to help teach the Confirmation Class at Assumption Parish on Sundays and engage with the students at St. Bernard’s School, Assumption Parish Homeschool Co-op, and Humboldt State Newman Center. 

​We are blessed to serve the faithful in the northern part of our diocese and grateful for all that they have done to make our presence in Ferndale and beyond possible. Entrusting this new Convent to St. Joseph, we look forward to the Lord’s plans for us. 

Please click "read in browser" to access the Ferndale slideshow below.

Ferndale Slideshow