PHILADELPHIA (CNS) – The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that it is selling six nursing homes and one assisted living facility operated by archdiocesan Catholic Health Care Services to a Flushing health care management company for $145 million.

The company, Center Management Group, owns and operates 15 nursing homes in New York and New Jersey. Under the agreement, the company has pledged to maintain the Catholic character of the nursing homes.

The date for the sale has not been set.

Under terms of the agreement, current nursing home staff members will become employees of Center Management Group at their current rate of pay when the agreement closes. They will receive health benefits under the new company’s health care plans. The management group also has agreed to retain all residents currently living in the facilities.

The sale does not affect nursing facilities owned and operated by religious congregations but only those directly owned by the archdiocese.