San Diego nuns fight eviction over decades-old property oversight

A group of nuns in San Diego is facing eviction from their long-time home. The Eudist Servants of the 11th Hour, an order of older women religious, received a notice calling them 'unlawful occupants' of their mobile home. The dispute centres on a decades-old oversight in property records, despite the sisters never missing a rent payment. The eviction notice arrived with Sister Mary Francis’ returned May 1 rent check. Management at Ocean Bluffs Mobile Home Estates claimed she had no legal right to live there because her name was not on the property title. Initially, she was given just five days to leave, though the process remains unresolved.

The sisters have lived in the home for years, with ownership informally passed between them over time. But the title was never updated, leaving the current residents without formal documentation. Despite this, the community has always paid rent on schedule and maintained their self-sufficient lifestyle. The Eudist Servants follow the example of their foundress, Mother Antonia Brenner. A twice-divorced mother of seven, she abandoned a life of wealth to minister in a Tijuana prison cell. The order continues her work, accepting older, self-supporting women who provide their own health insurance. Legal efforts to resolve the situation are now underway. The sisters remain determined to stay in their home and carry on their ministry.

The eviction case hinges on an outdated title issue, not unpaid rent or misconduct. The sisters are working to formalise their tenancy while continuing their religious mission. For now, their future in the mobile home remains uncertain as negotiations proceed.