The decision to sell Jozefhuis to the Trappist nuns in Arnhem was taken in the Dutch Regional Assembly of 2004. This included a small strip of the woodlands which is part of the grounds of Missiehuis 'Vrijland". Plans for a new St. Jozefhuis began right after that decision was taken. Koethuis was demolished first and the offices there transferred temporarily to 'Vrijland'. Actual work on the new building began last September after the preliminary work of planning and getting approval from the appropriate authorities were taken care of by a committee.
Work on the building will continue right towards the end of this year. This meant that the sisters would have to wait till that time before they could proceed to build a new convent in the present site of the old St. Jozefhuis as the members could only occupy the premises by January 2008. At the request of Mother Superior, the members agreed to vacate the old St. Jozefhuis by August 2007 so that it could be demolished to give way to the construction of their new convent. With the help of the sisters, alternative accommodation for the residents of Jozefhuis was arranged and they are now housed temporarily in various locations with a majority in Beukenstein in Driebergen-Rijsenberg.
The official opening of the new St. Jozefhuis is slated for 1st March 2008 and the solemn blessing will take place on 30th May 2008.
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