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September 24, 1958
A HOME FOR THE NURSES
The newly completed residence for nurses on LeMarchant Road adjoining St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital was blessed on Wednesday, September 24, 1958 by his Grace, Archbishop Patrick James Skinner.
The local newspaper, the Daily News in St. John’s reported: “His Grace and party were taken to the fourth floor of the new residence where the simple ceremony took place. The nurses sang a hymn in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes and after the Archbishop’s Blessing they presented him with a pledge of prayers for his intentions.
Visiting, priests, brothers and sisters were shown through the residence, which will be known as Our Lady of Lourdes Hall. It has been completed just in time for a record number of applicants to St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. Fifty nurses have registered this fall to complete then three years nursing program. “ (source: Daily News, St. John’s, NL September 25, 1958)
From the time of their arrival in Newfoundland, the Sisters of Mercy have been involved in ministry to the sick and dying. This involved primarily visitation of the sick in their homes and in institutions. In 1922, in response to a long felt need for a Catholic Hospital in St. John’s, St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital came into being. Its twenty-bed capacity soon proved inadequate for the needs and in 1939 the hospital moved into a new building. At the same time St. Clare’s began its School of Nursing.
In 1958 the Sisters of Mercy entered into a new phase of ministry when they agreed to administer and operate the newly constructed St. Patrick’s Mercy Home for the Aged and Infirm.
In 1994, the Sisters of Mercy reached an agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the transfer of ownership of the hospital. As part of this agreement, the Sisters still maintain a presence in the hospital and continue with the mission, vision, values, philosophy and ethical principles of St. Clare’s. As a teaching hospital, St. Clare’s is affiliated with Memorial University’s Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing.
For more information on the Mercy Congregation in Newfoundland and Labrador read Sister Kathrine Bellamy’s, RSM - “Weavers of the Tapestry” available in the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese and most book stores in the province www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
For more information on this and other related subjects contact the Archives of the R.C. Archdiocese. www.stjohnsarchdiocese.nf.ca
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Larry Dohey
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John’s
P.O. Box 1363
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5M3
709-726-3660
E-mail: archives@nf.aibn.com
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