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There's Room at St. Anthony's 

By: Mary McNally OSF

   Bethlehem. A Stable. No room in the Inn. The Innkeeper did not realize who he had taken in, but he knew there was a need.

   Fast forward 2000 years: St. Petersburg, FL, St. Anthony Hospital, "No room in the Inn." We take whoever comes to our Emergency Center door, because there is a need.

   This morning, Christmas Eve, as I was passing through the Peace Garden by the lobby, I wished a woman who was sitting there Merry Christmas.  She proceeded to tell me that she is a retired nurse and "loves this hospital."  She had worked for an agency and was involved with all the hospitals in the area. She went on to say that this is the only hospital where they genuinely care for and love their patients. She said, "you feel it when you enter the door." 
    So many times people will say there is something special about St. Anthony's, you feel it as soon as you enter the lobby. I truly believe it is our atmosphere of love. Our Team Members love what they do, love working here, love who they work with, and especially love their patients! In a world where there is so much hate and division, St. Anthony's is an oasis of love and peace.  That's why people want to come here! When people are in need, they come here because they find genuine care, compassion, and acceptance - elements of love.

   We are blessed to have our Board, Physicians, Team Members, Auxiliary, and Volunteers who make up St. Anthony's Family and who are so dedicated to caring for others, and create our atmosphere of Love throughout the year.

   During this month as we celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, it's all about love - of family, of others.

   On behalf of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, we wish our St. Anthony's Family a Christmas and New Year filled with love and peace. Let us continue this season of love, peace, and joy throughout the year! 

By: Margaret Magee OSF  

 

  I've often believed and said, that with God there is no such thing as a coincidence! I've experienced yet another "God coincidence" recently when someone loaned me the book Small Great Things and said "you have to read this." Over the past few months I have attended workshops on the topics of racism, have read many articles following the controversies over Confederate monuments, the white supremacy rallies and the "alt-right" mentalities. All of these events might seem to be new and recent occurrences but they are simply feelings and attitudes of racism and hatred that have been buried deep in our American consciences throughout our history. Many people thought that we had overcome these negative and dangerous attitudes with the Civil Rights Movement or with the election of our first African American President, Barack Obama. Unfortunately, the deeply buried attitudes were only suppressed and they are now arising with raw emotions and violent actions that need to be faced and discussed.

   In her novel, Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult delves into the deep waters and emotions of racism through the life of Ruth Jefferson, an African American woman who is a nurse in labor and delivery at a Connecticut hospital. Ruth is well-educated and has served at the hospital for over 20 years. She is respected by her supervisors and coworkers and sees herself as an important member of the labor and delivery team. That is until she shows up for work one day and begins a routine exam on a newborn, the infant son of parents who are white supremacists. The twists and turns of this story and the conversations and experiences between Ruth and the other characters were enlightening and soul-searching. How do I engage and interact with people of color? What stereotypes about people of another race have I grown up with and still hold today?

   We can no longer be color blind! We must be more open and engaging with others who are different from ourselves. We must become attentive and sensitive to the call for diversity, acceptance, and openness of all people as our sisters and brothers created in the image and likeness of our God.

   Small Great Things is a book that can help us open our minds and hearts to see differently and to hear the pain and struggles of others oppressed by our American attitudes of white privilege. Read the book! Get family and friends to read it and talk about it. Jodi Picoult also provides a discussion guide for your sharing and personal reflection.

   With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion  -and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is remarkable.