Saint Mary by-the-Sea

Saint Mary by -the-Sea, the summer retreat house of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Pennnsylvania, has stood, for over a century, in... more

by Carolyn Derstine

Title

Saint Mary by-the-Sea

Artist

Carolyn Derstine

Medium

Photograph

Description

Saint Mary by -the-Sea, the summer retreat house of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Pennnsylvania, has stood, for over a century, in the quiet landscape of Cape May Point, at the tip of the New Jersey Coast. In 1889, the history of Saint Mary by-the-Sea began when the Shoreham Hotel of Cape May Point, once touted as "one of America's foremost hotels" was built. After various transitions over the years, the Sisters of Saint Joseph purchased the property in 1909. Crosses were added to the roof, the ballroom became the chapel, and the sisters came for retreat and vacation.

Today, Saint Mary by-the-sea, is a retreat house that provides opportunities for annual retreat for the members of the Congregation and others who desire a similar retreat experience. The nuns will tell you it's miraculous that their 116 year old St. Mary-by-the-Sea retreat still survives the wrath of the aggressive Atlantic Ocean. The storm-tossed high dunes are at their back door, at the very tip of New Jersey. The U-shaped white Victorian building, with its aprons of open porches has a picturesque red roof with hipped dormers that is topped with crosses and sits in the shadow of the Cape May Lighthouse. Both are visible for miles at sea and are twin sentinels from the air as one approaches Cape May Point where the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay meet.

Uploaded

March 27th, 2015