In remarks prepared for todays dedication of the St.
Josephs Hospital exterior renovation,
Sister Margaret Beatty said: As Sisters of Mercy we are very grateful for many blessings today. There are three blessings I would like to voice today. 1. We are very grateful that we have been called by God, and for most of us, also by Mr. Hinchey, to serve here at St. Josephs/Candler. The 14 sisters who now serve here find joy in being a part of this healing ministry and we are grateful for the spirit of community that sustains us because we are serving together. 2. We are grateful too for our co-workers. The sisters get a lot of credit for things, for being sisters and for praying. But we all know that we work side by side with women and men whose strong faith in God inspires us to remember our mission and persevere in doing good work. A passage from the Sisters of Mercys Constitutions says it very well By collaborating with others in works of mercy We continually learn from them how to be more merciful. 3. And finally we are grateful for the strong women of mercy who have gone before us. Their spirits are certainly with us, rejoicing in this latest accomplishment. Their stories through the years are different, but they have many common threads: a strong faith in God and Gods Providence, courage, flexibility, response to need and a spirit of adventure. So it was in June, 1875 responding to an unmet need and at the request of two doctors and the bishop of Savannah, 5 sisters, all former teachers, under the leadership of Sr. Cecilia Carroll, left sent Vincents Convent on Liberty Street and traveled to East Broad and Gordon Street where they lived and cared for the sick seamen at what was called the Marine Hospital. Eight months later, in March, 1876, having outgrown the small two story frame building the sisters moved to the former GA Medical College and the new institution was placed under the protection of St. Josephs and called St. Josephs Infirmary. The sisters and their benefactors worked making the building livable. Then they moved the patients, seamen and a number of old, destitute people to the new hospital. The sisters called them our first and dearest patients. There are many other stories to be told, but today we come to this hospital, dedicated on August 15, 1970. Sr. Cornile Dulohery, following in the steps of Catherine McAuley and Sr. Cecilia Carroll and strong leader that she was, decided to move SJH from its original location downtown to this site on the southsidewhich was a wilderness. I am told the city ended at Middleground Rd and there was no bridge over the Forrest River. Despite many serious difficulties, Sr. Cornile said, SJ is going ahead in spite of obstacles because Savannah needs this facility So you can understand why we are grateful for and cherish the memory and example of our sisters who have gone before us, the leaders but also all the many sisters who served in various capacities. They loved SJ and in many small and large ways nurtured it to become what it is today. And so now we hold this treasure and weall of uslike those who have gone before us, must also be women and men who in faith rely on Gods Providence, who respond to need and are not afraid of a little adventurefor Gods glory and the good of those we serve..