The Blessing of Brand New
“ArchCare at Mother Cabrini Hospital”
A home for those with Special HealthCare Needs and Support Services
Tuesday, October 4th, 2022, the feast of St Francis Assisi, dawned grey, dreary, and pouring with rain. Little did we know that our mood would change once we entered the 7th floor of the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center on 5th Avenue at 105th Street. Missionary Sisters had been invited to the Mass and Blessing for a brand-new unit. (Fr. John Anderson, former Chaplain at Cabrini Medical Center, now working for ArchCare was responsible for planning the event.)
We were greeted by the statue of Mother Cabrini depicted with a young girl as we entered. The statue had been in West Park, NY and was donated to the new facility. It was a perfect fit in many ways. (Julia Attaway, the Director of St Frances Cabrini Shrine in NYC had the statue at the Shrine and was happy to see it in such a beautiful setting.)
Cardinal Dolan, entered smiling, joyful and greeting everyone. The entrance to the unit was full of people from the facility, construction personnel, Board of Trustees, 20 Missionary Sisters, Carmelites, representatives of the Archdiocese, politicians of the City and State of New York and many others. Two special guests were a young boy and young girl who will be residents in the new unit.
Cardinal Dolan reminded everyone that caring for the neediest was the mission of both Mother Cabrini and St Francis of Assisi. The Archdiocese of New York through ArchCare designed and constructed this beautiful area for the young people who will spend their entire life being cared for. Archbishop Dolan announced that the 8-year-old special needs child carried into the USA over the shoulder of her father and bussed to NYC will also be cared for in the new facility.
After Mass and dedication, we were invited to tour the new unit and proceeded to the reception. A feast was served to everyone. The late Sr Clelia Giancane, MSC, would have approved. ~ submitted by Antonina Avitabile MSC
To learn more about the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center click here