Misericordia opens new medical addition

Mother Rosalie Health Services houses a variety of clinics and services

-Photo supplied Sr. Lucie Lebeau, a Misericordia sister, is pictured here at the Misericordia expansion opening placing her hands in prints she made a year ago.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

It was as much a ceremony announcing the expansion of Catholic health care in Edmonton as it was a celebration honouring its rich legacy.

Representatives of the Misericordia Sisters and the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns) were on hand Nov. 22 at the Misericordia Community Hospital where Archbishop Thomas Collins blessed the hospital's new health services centre.

Last February, the archbishop blessed a similar building at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Millwoods.

The ceremony had an additional feature - Collins was to name the buildings after the orders' founders.

Mother Rosalie honoured

The archbishop announced the new 4,464-square-metre addition to the Misericordia will officially be called the Mother Rosalie Health Services Centre in honour of Misericordia founder Mother Rosalie Jette.

The building at the Grey Nuns was named St. Marguerite Health Services Centre after Grey Nuns founder St. Marguerite d'Youville - the first Canadian-born saint.

The congregations established Edmonton's first two hospitals - the Edmonton General (Grey Nuns) in 1895 and the Misericordia in 1900.

Archbishop's blessing

"It is always very moving when the archbishop comes to bless a building and we know that the work will be carried on," said Sheli Murphy, vice president of operations at the Misericordia Hospital. Murphy is also chief nursing officer for Caritas.

Murphy and the senior executive team at Caritas were in on naming the buildings that honour their tradition.

"It was very important for us to look at the foundresses and choose the name that would be most appropriate. St. Marguerite was perfect for the Grey Nuns.

"And naming it after Mother Rosalie was very moving for the sisters."

The Mother Rosalie Health Services Centre now houses programs that have moved from the main hospital, including the diabetes centre, capital health home care, child health clinic, mental health and a new program - community rehabilitation interdisciplinary service.

With the relocation of these clinics and offices, the vacated space will be reclaimed to add more acute care beds to the system.

Sister Germaine Hetu, local superior of the Grey Nuns, said the Nov. 22 ceremony was "very touching.

"We always like to remember Marguerite d'Youville and what the Grey Nuns have done in the past.

"It will be a reminder for the staff working in the building of their heritage," she said.

A constant reminder

"We have been able to continue in her spirit to take care of the sick and the needy. It is always good to be reminded of those things because staff changes and there are new people coming in."

"People might ask 'Who is this woman who we are called after?'

"Someone might be able to give some information on her spirit and what a great woman she was. And what a saint she was."

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