As convents across New York close their doors, aging nuns are facing the end of their communal lives together. Rather than retreating quietly, many have brought their traditions—and their parties—to an assisted living center in the suburbs. The sisters, some of whom have lived in religious communities for decades, now gather for weekly happy hours, complete with wine, cheese, and reminiscences.

At the center, which houses roughly 30 nuns from various orders, the mood is both celebratory and poignant. “We’ve lost our home, but we haven’t lost each other,” said Sister Mary Catherine, one of the residents. The transition has been jarring; the women once ran schools, hospitals, and parishes across the city. Now they navigate shared rooms and scheduled meals, yet they insist on maintaining their identity through rituals like evening prayers and, yes, cocktail hour.

The phenomenon reflects a broader decline: the number of nuns in the United States has dropped from 180,000 in 1965 to fewer than 40,000 today. For these sisters, happy hour is a small act of defiance—a way to savor their remaining years together. “We’re not vanishing without a toast,” another nun laughed. The gatherings have become so popular that staff members often join in, creating an unlikely intergenerational community in the New York suburbs.