Poor Claire Convents

St. Elizabeth of Portugal feast

MANILA, Philippines -- Catholics commemorate Monday the life and times of St. Elizabeth (Santa Isabel) of Portugal, the patroness of peace and of the Third Order of St. Francis.

In the country, feast masses, novena prayers, and solemn processions will be observed in several Catholic churches, particularly at the Sta. Isabel Cathedral in Isabela, Basilan. St. Elizabeth was born in 1271 and was named after her great aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

At the age of 12, she was given in marriage to King Denis of Portugal whom she converted from his sinful life.

In 1325, after the death of her husband, she entered the Third Order of St. Francis and retired to a convent of the Poor Clares. (Christina Hermoso)

Economic provisions 

MANILA, Philippines -- Charter change advocates in the House of Representatives are continuously hammering out the economic provisions of the Cha-cha bill that is expected to be submitted to the plenary “in three months.”

Misamis Occi-dental Rep. Loreto S. Ocampos, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said that they are finalizing the draft bill which contains “some revisions,” referring to the economic provisions that are to be revisited and amended.

He said the economic provisions serve as the “focal point” of the Cha-cha bill. (Charissa M. Luci)

Extended

MANILA, Philippines -- The Court of Appeals (CA) has extended the 20-day freeze order on the bank accounts and properties of Raymond and Roger Dominguez - alleged leaders of a car theft syndicate - to six more months.

Citing the failure of the accuse to counter the evidence presented by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) establishing prob-able cause for the issuance of a freeze order, the CA’s Second Division, through Associate Justice Michael Elbinias, stretched the prevailing 20-day freeze order on the bank accounts and properties of the Dominguez brothers to a maximum of six months.

“In fact, private respondents did not specifically dispute the allegations of the AMLC in its petition regarding the existence of the subject bank accounts and the transactions made on these accounts,” the CA said. (Leonard De Vera)

Nursing program

MANILA, Philippines -- An opposition lawmaker want government to stop discouraging the youth from taking up nursing as their professional career as he disclosed that Filipino nurses remain in demand abroad and will continue to enjoy the confidence of medical authorities in other countries.

Demolition Watch: Poor Clares Monastery « Field Notes

Demolition Watch: Poor Clares Monastery

The former Poor Clares Monastery at 2012-30 West Girard Avenue is slated for demolition. The site, part of the Girard Avenue National Register Historic District, has been vacant and neglected for years by absentee owners who are now proposing two new apartment buildings on the site. Their plan for 42 new 800-square-foot units and a 16-space parking lot requires a number of zoning variances and has been met with significant opposition from neighbors in Francisville and Fairmount.  However, the buildings are not listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, meaning the buildings can be demolished without the approval of the Philadelphia Historical Commission or any assurances that new development would follow.

Owners have cited L&I building violations as justification for the demolition– violations caused by their own negligence in securing and maintaining the buildings. And now they seek to profit from this neglect by speculating on out-of-character new construction, despite the fact that the site is a prime candidate for adaptive reuse and eligible for federal preservation tax credits.

The site sits directly across from Girard College and is an important gateway into Francisville. It includes two c.1890s brownstone townhouses linked by c.1918 Romanesque stone chapel. From 1918 to 1977, the site was home to a contemplative order of Franciscan nuns known as the Poor Clares. Never has a building’s name so sadly matched its fate.

If anyone has photos of the interior, we would love to hear from you.

This is a gem that should be cherished not plowed under. The history of the contributions of the Poor Clares, plus the raw architectural beauty of the structure should be valued and respected. Beyond that, the community has spoken, has expressed their vision for the property, and has voted overwhelmingly against the developer’s proposition.

July 5, 2011 at 11:52 am

As the major and perhaps the most influential organization condemning the potential demoliton of the St. Clare Monastery, you might want to be aware when defending the property that both brownstones incorporated in the complex could be historically certified on their own merit. Information that would have become apparent with even the least bit of research. Factors that seem to have been lost in all the todo over the property, that, I emphatically note, have sat abandoned for how many years while no one apparently had enough concern to help prevent the present situation. But, sadly, this is the Francisville story. I cannot help wonder how concerned the movers and shakers of Francisville, as well as the affluent neighbors and property owners in the rest of the block, have been throughout all of this. Best of luck in your efforts.

The English Catholic refugees on the continent 1558-1795, Vol. 1: The English colleges and convents in the Catholic low countries, 1558-1795

The plans of the Poor Clares' convents in central Italy from the thirteenth through the fifteenth century

Convent Cruelties Or How Girls Become the Brides of Christ

Historical abstracts, Modern history abstracts, 1450-1914

The Poor Clare