Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides) - An American nun who worked with Blessed Damien the apostle of the lepers in Molokai, Hawaii, will be beatified in Rome tomorrow. Mother Marianne Cope (1838-1918) of the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order, United States will be beatified in St Peter’s Basilica at 5pm on Saturday 14 May together with Mother Ascención Nicol, co-founder of the Missionary Dominicans of the Rosary.
“Mother Marianne's beatification is seen as a great blessing for our sisters and for our Community as a whole - Sr Mary Laurence Hanley beatification postulator told Fides -. As this great event comes so soon after the union of three Congregations into one as the Sisters of St. Francis, we also see this as a blessing on what we have done. Our religious community throughout the years has received dozens of religious vocations because of our Molokai mission. This work is almost over because there are only about 30 patients or so at the colony. We feel that we now have other faraway places with desperate need that would appeal to the generous heart who wishes to serve God and neighbour in a direct way”.
Born in New York in 1838 to a family of German immigrants, for some years Barbara Cope worked in a factory to help support the large family before entering the Congregation of the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order founded in 1860 in Syracuse United States taking the name of Marianne. At first she cared for the sick at Syracuse hospital and then held various charges in the congregation. In 1883 she was sent to Honolulu in Hawaii to organise assistance to lepers. Ten years earlier on 10 May 1873 Belgian Fr Damien de Veuster landed on the island of Molokai where people with infectious diseases were isolated from the rest of the community. Fr Damien, known and loved as the apostle of lepers, was a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, or Picpus Fathers He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 4 June 1995. In 1888 Sr Marianne reached the place where Fr Damien was working in when the latter died in 1889, she continued his mission to assist and rehabilitate lepers until she died in 1918.
“Mother Marianne modelled the Gospel mandate - "Love your neighbour and yourself" - Sr Mary Laurence Hanley continued - She left a heritage of excellence in education and in healthcare, particularly that of caring for those who are suffering and who are feared or isolated because of their disease. Mother Marianne Cope centered her life on God and the desire to do His most holy will. She had a deep reverence for all God's people. She was a compassionate caregiver, an innovator, a kind yet strong administrator and maintained her cheerfulness in the most difficult situations. Mother Marianne's life is one that motivates one to love God more and to serve Him better.
The Sisters of St. Francis follow the Gospel, in the manner given to us by Saints Francis and Clare. As women of vision, they seek to live in right relationship with God, one another and all creation. They are particularly focused on the care of the poor. “We have 450 sisters, present in North America, South America(Peru), Africa (Timau) and in the state of Hawaii - Sr Mary Laurence Hanley explained - We minister in education (nursery, day care and preschool through the University level), Religious Education, health care, social services, clinic for the uninsured, food pantry, pastoral care in hospitals and home care, parish work, Homeless Shelter, Long Term Care and Adult Care Facility, Refugee Shelter, pastoral counselling services, counselling of youth and adults, retreat work, Adult Day Care, Home for the dying. Some of our Sisters are involved in pastoral work and organising retreats for young people and adults.” (R.G.) (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2005, righe 45, parole 622)
