St. Mary’s Hospital: The SFP Spirit Lives on...

A Tribute
Sister Kathleen Reynolds retired from St. Mary Hospital at the end of October and moved to Warwick, New York. She is the last Franciscan Sister of the Poor to work at St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken, NJ. Sister Kathleen has worked in the New Jersey hospitals once sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor for almost all her life.

St. Mary’s held a special ‘Good Bye’ celebration for her on October 20th. Sr. Kathleen said, “It was heart-warming how many of the employees at St Mary’s came to say goodbye. Most of them were there during our time and they recall it with great nostalgia. I did not realize how much I would miss this place, and the wonderful people who work here...But the SFP spirit will remain alive in St. Mary’s Hospital.”

Sister Kathleen’s Story
Sister Kathleen is being celebrated and interviewed by newspapers and cable news networks. When asked about her life choice to become a Sister, she said: “I saw the Sisters at work in the hospitals in the Bronx, and, as a young adult, I visited the Sisters and saw first hand how they took care of the poor. This had a great and lasting influence on me so I decided to go on a retreat in Warwick. The rest is history!” Sr. Kathleen was born in New York City. She graduated from St. Catharine’s Academy in the Bronx in 1954 and entered the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor on August 15, 1957. She received her spiritual formation at Mount Alverno Convent, Warwick, and made First Profession of Vows.

A 1975 graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, she also responded to the healing mission of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor by serving in massage therapy and administration as well as nursing for over 50 years.

Sister served as the clinical coordinator and the nurse in charge at Mount Alverno Center for nine years, prior to which she ministered at the former Anthony House in Jersey City for two years -- and was Head Nurse in Pediatrics at St. Francis Community Health Center in Jersey City for eight years, from 1975 to 1983. In addition Sister Kathleen served in the nursing department at St. Michael Medical Center for two years, and also at the former St. Francis Community Hospital in Greenville, S.C., for three years.

Sr. Kathleen is a gifted nurse and has served in a wide range of responsibilities. As a certified massage therapist, Sister Kathleen served as a massage therapist at the former St. Francis Hospital of the Bon Secours New Jersey Health System, in Jersey City, NJ as well as at St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken.

Mother Frances Visited St. Mary’s Hospital
“St Mary’s is the oldest hospital in New Jersey – founded in 1863! Mother Frances herself visited this hospital when she came to the United States. I know that the employees will carry on our ministry of living out the Gospel way of life and continue to touch the lives of the poor as well as many other lives,” she said. “Healing is still my ministry. We have many opportunities daily to reach out and bring the love of God to others who touch our lives and teach us each day.”
[photo by Sr. Mary Veronica Donohue]