URSULINES ACT TO PRESERVE CHARACTER OF BROWN CO. PROPERTY 

Recently the Ursulines of Brown County made the decision to sell, to Chatfield College, the land and buildings on which the college is located in St. Martin, Ohio.  Following is a statement from the Ursulines of Brown County and Chatfield College President John P. Tafaro regarding this decision.

A Statement from the Ursulines of Brown County

The Ursulines of Brown County, with great concern for their neighbors and committed to good stewardship of the land, have taken steps to assure that their long-held property in St. Martin will maintain its character under new ownership.

The community arrived in northern Brown County in 1845 and has been serving the rural area ever since.  We have been involved in education on the grade school, high school, and college levels, provided religious education to neighboring Catholic parishes, sponsored a summer camp for girls and spiritual retreats for women.  The Sisters have been involved not only in parish activities but also in civic organizations as well.

Currently, we have 23 members from 61- 95 years of age. Like many religious congregations, we realize that we are nearing completion as a religious community.  However, we are counting on our sponsored ministries, Chatfield College in St. Martin/Cincinnati and Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati, as well as the many other people we have ministered to and with, to carry on our mission to further

the Gospel of Jesus, value each individual person, and educate future generations.

For several years, the Ursulines of Brown County have been discerning about the future of our land as we near completion.  We have been blessed to care for this land for almost 172 years. The Legacy Statement developed in 2010 concerning the care and protection of the Ursuline land reads, in part:

“First and foremost, every endeavor must reflect Gospel values and be in harmony with the nature of the land, its beauty, tranquility, and restorative potential for the human spirit.  Our land is holy ground supporting efforts to experience and share the love of God in a myriad of ways.  We want to ensure that there will be no impediments to deter these efforts from fullest expression.”

As part of our effort to put the Legacy Statement into practice, we placed the farmland in a conservation easement and returned the waterway to its original configuration as Solomon’s Run. These moves assure that both the 83.6 acres of farm land and the waterway will remain as they are into perpetuity.

Recently the Sisters made the unanimous decision to sell the non-farm property to Chatfield College, which the Ursulines founded in 1971, effective July 1, 2017, and to sell/auction the farmland in the near future. Because the Sisters are older and we are well aware of the challenges and the costs when a person ages, the proceeds from these sales will be used for retirement needs of the Sisters.  Both the Sisters’ residence known as Brescia and the Ursuline administration building known as Springer will continue to be utilized by them.

Sr. Phyllis Kemper, Congregational Minister for the Ursulines of Brown County, said that this decision to divest themselves of the property did not come lightly.  “The process toward making the decision took several years of prayer, discernment and consultation with professionals in the areas of real estate, finance, law and township and county government.  The realities of aging helped us to understand that we wish to spend our last years ministering to people rather than caring for buildings and property. Through Chatfield College and future farmers, the legacy begun by our foundress Julia Chatfield will continue into the future.”

The Sisters invited more than 100 friends, neighbors, and stakeholders to a meeting on June 20 to communicate and explain this decision.

“The Ursulines of Brown County have an incredible history of service and educational ministry for more than 172 years, having played a major role in the academic and spiritual formation of children and adults, not just on its own land and campus, but throughout the region’s public and private schools,” said John P. Tafaro, Chatfield College president.   “The Sisters founded Chatfield College in 1971 to meet the needs of the community then, and have continued to support us, and our students, as they do still today.  This incredible gift of land and buildings is yet another example of their love and generosity that has been visible, continually, for all 46 years of our existence.   Now, as an independent entity, our Catholic College remains and will continue as an Ursuline School, true to the core values the Sisters have instilled in us.  We are proud to be part of their vast legacy, and honored to continue the educational tradition they began so long ago.”

For more information, contact: Sr. Phyllis Kemper, Congregational Minister at 513.875.2020 ext.27 or pkemper@tds.net.

Upcoming Events

Annual Fall Festival

5k Nun Run

Celebrating Our Scholars Brunch

The Hechinger Report: The Chatfield Edge – The Future is Now

The Chatfield Edge was recently profiled in The Hechinger Report and The Washington Post about our innovative way to continue supporting local students pursuing higher education, even after closing the…

Read More »

Kelly Smith Taylor joins The Chatfield Edge as the Director of Development

The Chatfield Edge announces the appointment of Kelly Smith Taylor as its new Director of Development. Kelly joined the team in December to help advance the mission of The Chatfield…

Read More »

Chatfield Alum Heather Strong – 2023 Brown County Teacher of the Year

We are excited to announce that Heather Strong (née Sizemore), a graduate of the former Chatfield College, has been recognized as the 32nd Brown County Teacher of the Year. Heather…

Read More »