Using water from the Sanctuary of Our Lady at Lourdes, the Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse today blessed the new Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum.
Bishop Robert J. Cunningham also celebrated Mass at the shrine for some 40 guests, including representatives of Kate Mahoney and Sharon Smith, the women whose recoveries from life-threatening illnesses are miracles attributed to St. Marianne.
The shrine and museum was recently relocated from its original site on the Central New York campus of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. That building has been closed and the museum moved to a building provided by St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.
“Discussions about connecting the museum to the hospital that St. Marianne helped found and where she served as administrator for over five years began years ago,” said Sister Roberta Smith, general minister, during a program that followed the Mass. She said she and hospital CEO Kathryn Ruscitto had a number of brainstorming sessions about how such a transition could take place. Officials at St. Joseph’s eventually made available an empty building on the hospital’s campus and helped fund its renovation.
“Today, what started as a dream has become a reality and there are many people to thank,” Sister Roberta said. The museum tells the story of Barbara Koob, daughter of German immigrants raised in Utica, N.Y. who was given the name of Sister Marianne when she entered the Sisters of St. Francis. From teacher to hospital administrator to beloved mother of outcasts, caring for patients with Hansen’s disease in Hawaii, Mother Marianne broke new ground in each of her ministries. She was canonized a saint October 21, 2012.
Visitors to the new Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum will find personal items and exhibits that tell her life story.
Sister Geraldine Ching was instrumental in designing the new shrine and museum honoring St. Marianne Cope. She was interviewed by Central New York news media at today’s shrine blessing and liturgy.
A stained glass window featuring St. Francis of Assisi encountering a man with Hansen’s disease (leprosy) and a photo of St. Marianne Cope welcome visitors to the shrine and museum. Exhibits tell Mother Marianne’s story, from her childhood in Utica to her pioneering work in health care in Syracuse to her work with Hansen’s disease patients in Hawaii.
Sister Jean Canora accompanies Bishop Robert J. Cunningham through the Saint Marianne Cope Shrine & Museum as he blesses each room. The Bishop used water from the Sanctuary of Our Lady at Lourdes for the blessing; Sister Jean brought the water home from her most recent trip to France.
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Congratulations sisters… the pictures look beautiful. Can’t wait to come up and see it!
I am so excited to visit the new museum at St. Joes! I’m sure the curators have done it justice, from the cramped rooms at the convent to this shiny, new location. My prayer is that it will inspire the many visitors who journey here and bring peace, comfort and hope to those who seek it.
My heart is filled with gratitude for the work the sisters and curators did to preserve and honor St. Marianne Cope (she will always be Mother Marianne to me). When I entered community in 1976 I was given the task to assist Sister Mary Lawrence in organizing and categorizing the files on Mother Marianne. As time moved forward, and I learned about her life I felt such joy and admiration in being part of this blessed woman’s life. My heart leaps for joy whenever I hear her name spoken. Words cannot express the feelings for her canonization. As I moved on in my life outside the community I kept in touch with Sister Mary Lawrence and was delighted to assist in any way to help with the process. I look forward in coming up to visit the museum in the near future.