Auxiliary hospital gains jubilee chapel

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

That means the chapel at 10707-29th Ave. is a special place of prayer open to all in the city.

Other jubilee centres in the Edmonton Archdiocese include St. Joseph's Basilica, St. Albert Church, Lac Ste. Anne Mission, Red Deer's Sacred Heart Parish and the Marian shrine at Skaro.

The designation means staff and patients attending a liturgy at the chapel are eligible to receive a jubilee indulgence if they meet the other usual conditions for indulgences.

Collins made the declaration during a staff mission service at the chapel Feb. 8. Some 65 people attended the service, including staff, relatives of the patients, Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and pastors from other Christian churches.

In his homily, Collins described the jubilee as a time of rejoicing, reflection and fellowship and said the archdiocese has declared various churches as jubilee sites to help people express those dimensions of jubilee.

"This chapel is also a jubilee chapel, a place where we experience prayer and fellowship," he declared. "I invite and encourage people who live and work here to come here and say a prayer for others and experience as well the prayer of solidarity with the whole Church."

Collins also invited hospital staff and management to look at their commitments and mission during this jubilee year.

"(Jubilee) is a time for us to reflect upon our purpose," he said. "We need to reflect upon our mission which always goes right back to that of Jesus. Where Jesus passes there is light, love and life."

The service was part of the hospital's annual mission week.

About 315 people work at St. Joseph's on a full-time, part-time or casual basis. Founded in 1927 by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent the Paul, the hospital is a 204-bed continuing care facility.

Marilyn Snow, hospital CEO for the past 18 months, was delighted by the chapel's designation as a jubilee site.

"It means that the chapel is a place of prayer for all people, both those who live here and work here but also for our community," she told the WCR.

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