Places…
A Tradition of Hospitality Marymount—Philippine Nurses
C
hapter 5 of The Congregational Structure of Governance of the Sisters
of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis states:
“Our homes are to be dwelling places that promote and challenge personal, communal and ministerial growth. With a warm, generous and receptive spirit, we welcome guests as neighbor, friend and sister. In this manner, we carry forward the tradition of hospitality by which we have always been known.” The sisters at Marymount Congregational Home are making this hospitality real by opening their home to nurses from the Philippines. The nurses are working at Marymount Hospital, located on the same campus as the congregational home in Garfield Heights, Ohio. The living facilities were made available in August of 2002 when the nurses needed transitional housing while getting settled in the United States. They are able to stay at the congregational home for three to four months before moving on to their own living situations. The relationship between the sisters and the Philippine nurses has been mutually enriching. The nurses join the sisters in prayer and other activities, and the sisters in turn enjoy the company and ministry of the nurses.This program of hospitality has helped a number of nurses relocate without the added stress of acquiring transitional housing. It also provides another opportunity to “promote and challenge personal, communal and ministerial growth.”
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Vol. 4 No. 1