Blessing
New Patient Care Addition
Resurrection Medical Center
Sister Donna Marie, C.R., CEO

Today marks a very important day in the history of Resurrection Medical Center.  It is the day Cardinal George will preside at a special Mass and Blessing on the occasion of the opening of the New Patient Care Addition.  At the beginning of the Liturgy nine symbolic gifts will be carried and placed before the altar.  Here is a description and explanation of six of these gifts.

The 1st symbolic gift is a photo of the stained glass image of St. Mary Magdalene, taken in the chapel here at Resurrection Medical Center. Today is the feast of St Mary Magdalene. This saint holds a special place in the hearts of the Sisters of the Resurrection because as John the evangelist tells us it was Mary Magdalene, to whom Jesus appeared first after His Resurrection. And it was Mary Magdalene to whom Jesus entrusted the task of proclaiming the Easter message to His disciples.  In the same way, we give thanks for our calling to share the message of Jesus’ Resurrection & His promise of life & hope to each patient & family we care for.

The next four gifts symbolize our dedication & commitment to the inner healing that is part of our ministry. When we speak of healing, we recognize that we cannot cure all disease or illness but we can help people find harmony & peace of mind, body & spirit. This building was designed to assure people that they are warmly & compassionately cared for & that we will strive to help them feel God’s love during this time in their lives.

And so, our next gift is an artist’s rendering of the Healing Garden which has been constructed on the 1st  floor of this new building. This garden symbolizes the way in which God’s healing presence can be manifest by the gift of nature & a belief in the Risen Christ.

Each of the floors in this new building will have a healing art theme. The theme for the 5th floor is flowers. Our next offering symbolizes that God’s gift of flowers, with their diversity & bright colors, create energy & hope for new life. This will be theme for our Rehabilitation Center.

The theme for the 2nd floor, our Intensive Care Unit, is trees. This gift symbolizes the trees, with their soft leafy boughs, free movement in the wind & lovely hues help fill us with God’s peace.

Water is the theme for our 3rd floor. This offering reminds us that the relaxing blues & greens of water help promote a sense of tranquility. Water also reminds us of God’s gift of life to His people.

Finally, the theme for our 4th floor is grass. Our gift symbolizes the memories of the soft feel, sweet smell & gentle rustling sound of grass, which creates an awareness of God’s gifts of comfort, freedom & hope.

All of the work that we will do in this building is inspired by God, empowered by the gift of His Son’s healing ministry & carried on by all those who are called to support our Mission by the roles they fulfill.