Benedictine Acquires Mother of Mercy Senior Living in Albany

Posted on February 5, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota

Benedictine has welcomed Mother of Mercy Senior Living, 230 Church Avenue, Albany, Minn., to its family of senior living communities.

The Most Reverend Patrick Neary, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud, presided over the special welcome and blessing Ceremony on Jan. 28. As part of the ceremony, Bishop Neary symbolically transferred the mantle of stewardship over Mother of Mercy to Jerry Carley, president/CEO of Benedictine. From the flickering flames of their individual candles, a unified pillar was lit, embodying the fusion of the Benedictine healthcare ministry at Mother of Mercy with Benedictine. The two candles continued to burn, a testament to the enduring legacy of the traditions of each organization.

In symbolic action honoring the Benedictine sponsorship, Jennifer Kuhn, interim executive director, accepted The Rule of St. Benedict from Carley on behalf of Duluth Benedictine Ministries and the Benedictine Peace Cross from Rev. Scott Cartwright, Benedictine director of spiritual care, representing the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery’s ongoing prayerful support of Mother of Mercy.

The transfer of membership of Mother of Mercy Senior Living to Benedictine was approved by both respective Board of Directors last fall. In January 2026, Benedictine received approval from the Minnesota Department of Health on the transfer of licenses for Mother of Mercy’s Care Center, The Suites Rapid Recovery, Fairway Ridge, Grace Court and Tranquility Place, and Memory Lane. The effective date for the transfer of licenses to Benedictine is Jan. 1, 2026.

The transfer of ownership process is still proceeding for Pondview Estates. Pondview Estates, as a HUD dwelling, requires additional approval from United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD has confirmed that they have received and are reviewing the application. As it has since Oct. 1, Benedictine will manage and operate the building while the process is completed.

With the completion of the license transfer, Mother of Mercy Senior Living becomes Benedictine Living Community-Mother of Mercy, a full member of Benedictine. The individual service lines will also have new Benedictine identities. The Care Center will be known as Benedictine Care Community; assisted living becomes Benedictine Assisted Living; and memory care will be known as Benedictine Memory Care.

The ceremony acknowledged the shared Benedictine heritage of Mother of Mercy and Benedictine. Mother of Mercy Nursing Home opened on Aug. 1, 1959, under the auspices of Seven Dolors Catholic Parish and was managed by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. In 1966, Mother of Mercy Nursing Home became a separate free standing non-profit corporation with a volunteer board of directors.

Benedictine was founded by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, on Oct. 1, 1985, with three healthcare organizations. Its Mission and Core Values are based in the Rule of Saint Benedict and Benedictine charisms. Benedictine has grown and is now recognized as one of the leading Catholic senior living providers in the Midwest with 34 senior living campuses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Illinois and Missouri.

“Joining the Benedictine family marks an exciting new chapter for Mother of Mercy. This new affiliation will build on our strong foundation and give us the opportunity to embrace new ways to enhance the lives of those we serve,” said Mark Knapp, chair, Mother of Mercy Board of Directors. “As board chair, I’m proud of the respectful and mission-focused work that brought us to this moment. This affiliation positions Mother of Mercy for long‑term strength and ensures our mission will continue to flourish for future generations.”

“We’re excited to welcome Mother of Mercy Senior Living into the Benedictine family as we work together to advance the future of senior care. This affiliation reinforces our shared mission to provide outstanding, person‑centered support and to continue innovating for the well‑being of the Albany area for years to come,” said Jerry Carley, Benedictine president/CEO. “Thank you to all who helped bring this milestone to life.”

Additional information on Benedictine may be found at www.benedictineliving.org.