DAYTON—The Sisters of the Precious Blood are hosting an open house from 2-4 p.m. April 26, at Salem Heights, the congregation’s Dayton motherhouse.

Guests are welcome for all or part of the afternoon, which includes guided tours of the convent and chapel, a chance to meet and mingle with the sisters and refreshments. A concert of sacred music begins at 4 p.m. and the day ends with guests invited to an evening prayer service to close the day.

The open house is one of several events planned in 2009-2010 to mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Precious Blood Sisters.

Sisters first arrived in Ohio from Switzerland in 1844; they began serving in other areas of Ohio and Indiana from the mid-1800s. The motherhouse was relocated from Maria Stein, Ohio, to Dayton (Trotwood) in 1923. Since that time hundreds of Sisters of the Precious Blood have gone forth from this location to serve God’s people in dozens of U.S. states and internationally. They have served in education and health care, pastoral service and work for human dignity and justice, aiming to always share God’s reconciling presence with our fractured world.

Salem Heights is located at 4960 Salem Avenue; entrance on Denlinger Road just past Salem Avenue intersection (third driveway on left after crossing Salem). It is fully handicapped accessible. For more information, contact Precious Blood Sister Beverly at 937-278-0871 or visit www.PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org.