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..

7/10/14