Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1914 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

I 'r. M. Reinigia’s Silver Jubilee. Logansport, August 13, 1914. Wednesday, August 12, Venerable Sister M. Remigia, O. S. F., the superioress of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Logansport. Ind., celebrated her silver jubilee, having been a Franciscan Sister for 25 years. For 25 years she lias performed the noble work of the good Samaritan in tending to the sick, in alleviating their agonizing pains, doing even the humblest work for helpless patients. Blessed with undaunted energy, with a heart lull of charity, with cheerfulness and a perfect confidence in God, Sister Remigia has had wonderful success in her arduous work. The other good Sisters in the hospital, loved and assisted her faithfully. When Sister M. Remigia came to Logansport, and that is more than i 4 years ago, the old St. Joseph s Hospital on the bank of the Wabash was in a very primitive condition. Improvements were made. Hundreds of charity patients were nursed back to health. The Sisters had to go begging to feed the sick. Occasionally the floods exceeding the bank of the river would cause havoc in the humble building. Animated with the desire of having a more sanitary place and more modern conveniences Sister Remigia, in spite of utter poverty, secured a place in the east end of Logansport, then outside the city. That was one of the most trying events in the life of good Sister Remigia. It seemed no one in Logansport was willing to render substantial financial assistance. So it seemed for several weeks, but when the Sisters were on the point of leaving Logansport, good Father B. Kroeger, tljie much beloved pastor of the St. Joseph’s church, persuaded the Sisters to stay, assuring them of the liberality of many prominent citizens. Then Sister M. Remigia set to work, a magnificent hospital balued at a hundred and seventy thousand dollars was erected. Under the stress of poverty, facing an enormous debt of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, the erection and completion of St. Joseph’s Hospital and its magnificent chapel, with its artistic paintings, and beautiful w inflow s and altars, is a praiseworthy achievement of the venerable jubilarian. No wonder that her silver jubilee was a day of public honor. A solemn high mass; was chanted at 9 a. m. Her relative, the missionary, Father Vigilius H. Krull, C. PP. S., was celebrant; Rev. Father King was deacon, and preached a very appropriate sermon on the high vocation and charitable work of the good Franciscan Sisters; Rev. Father Halpin was subdeacon and Father Rudolf Stoll and Father Adolph Schott, C.PP.S., the present Highly esteemed chaplain of the hospital, acted as Master of ceremony. In the sanctuary, vested in surplice, were Rev. Father B. Kroger, Rev. Father Seimetz and Rev. Father Quim of Logansport. A delegation of Sisters from other convents, among them four Sisters of Notre Dame, were in attendance. Many of their friends from town and a full number of St. Joseph's Sewing Circle, the best ladies in Logansport, attended. In the well chosen words of the Rev. Father King, we wish Sister M. Remigia God’s choicest blessing, a continuance of her good work, and if it be God’s will, the pleasure to be able to celebrate her golden jubilee.

The good Sisters, who sacrifice their time, their energy and their very life for the help, spiritual and temporal, of the sick are well worthy of our gratitude and liberal assistance. May God bless and preserve them! xx