Atlantic Catholic - Diocese of Antigonish

PAGE 8 The Atlantic Catholic — August 7, 2010Diocesan NewsHospital HonoursMarthas for LeadershipSisters of St. Martha Anne MacLellan (left) and Loretta McGrathattended the Feast of St. Martha celebration July 29 at the ClareMarie Auditorium located at St. Martha Regional Hospital in Antigonish.(Connor MacEachern photo)By Connor MacEachernThe Sisters of St. Martha have served thecommunity through leadership, advocacy andsacrifice, according to Jim Mulcahy.“And Martha served indeed, like a lighthouse,shining the way forward through foggy seas.”Mulcahy presented a reflection on thecongregation’s contributions July 29 during aFeast of St. Martha celebration at the Clare MarieAuditorium at St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish.Hospital mission co-ordinator Debbie Murphysaid the hospital holds the annual celebration tohonour the Sisters who worked at the hospital aswell as “the staff for carrying on the traditions ofthe Sisters of St. Martha.”Mulcahy said Antigonish and the surroundingarea owe much to “those absolutely amazing womenfrom whom the community has inherited so manygraces and services.”The Sisters of St. Martha were founded as acongregation independent from Sisters of Charity ofHalifax in 1900. The congregation worked hand-inhandwith the hospital and St. F.X., and were amongthe leaders of the Antigonish Movement.The history of the congregation is an importantstep toward understanding present and futurecommunity development, Mulcahy said.“Too often we forget from where we have come,and in doing so, do a disservice to those who havegone before,” he said.“There is hardly a community in northeast NovaScotia that, upon reflection, does not owe a debt …to these sisters.”The sisters can provide as much leadership nowas they ever could, he added.“Do not look for them walking behind you, lookahead to where they’ve always been and still are.”A handful of Sisters of St. Martha came fromBethany Centre for the presentation.“I thought it was wonderful,” Sister AnneMacLellan said. “I didn’t expect anything likethat.”The congregation is already looking toward thefuture, she added.“Our faith is a big, big part of what we give now,”Sister MacLellan said. “To give people hope.”The Sisters’ population is not as robust as it oncewas, but Sister MacLellan said the congregationhas a history of accomplishing much with fewresources.“We need to be grateful for what we have receivedand for what we have been able to give.”Sisters Celebrate Jubilees30172 8-7Sisters of St. Martha Marie Therese Richard (front left), Sarah MacPherson, Gloria O’Neil, Olga MacDougall (backleft), Michelle MacDougall, Edna MacDonald, Congregation Leader Mary MacFarlane, Isabel MacEachern andSandra Cooke celebrated 75, 60 and 50 years of vowed religious life June 19. The celebration took place withinthe Liturgy of the Eucharist where the celebrants were joined by their Martha companions, family members andfriends.