The Sister Arleen Brawley and Sister Mary Beth McCurdy Fund for Sophia Recovery Centre

In 2008, Sister Arleen Brawley and Sister Mary Beth McCurdy of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception recognized a need for gender-specific care for women experiencing addiction and substance use challenges.

They founded Sophia Recovery Centre, a registered charity, choosing the name ‘Sophia’ because, in classical tradition, it represents the feminine personification of divine wisdom. They established the original Recovery Centre in uptown Saint John as a space for women to access counselling, peer support and other social and wellness programs.

SRC develops new programs and continuing care services and advocates for the unique needs of women seeking recovery, including accessible trauma informed care.

In 2024, SRC’s Board of Directors, in honour of its founders and their vision for the sustainability of the programs and services for years to come, chose to create a permanent endowment fund with the Foundation to support SRC’s operations, ‘The Sister Arleen Brawley and Sister Mary Beth McCurdy Fund for Sophia Recovery Centre.’

The annual income from the Fund will be used to support Sophia Recovery Centre.