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Since its doors first opened in downtown Albany in November of 1869, St. Peter's Hospital has provided more than healthcare services. It also has a long history as a setting that frequently fosters spiritual healing.

To capture that side of its history, the hospital's Spirit at Work committee has compiled and published "140 Stories, Remem-bering People." The volume contains memories of physicians, staff and volunteers of the deeds that are not documented in annual reports or headlines.

Often it is "the stories of the little things that made a difference - that touched an individual," wrote Sister Gail Waring, RSM, vice-president of mission services for the facility, in the book's preface. "Ultimately, it is the gift of remembering people that allows us to grasp the true history of St. Peter's."

The 140 accounts of moments that touched hearts and lifted spirits within the hospital's walls represent just the tip of the iceberg, organizers said.

"There are many more people who have contributed greatly to St. Peter's [but] are not a part of this collection," noted Sister Gail. "Each individual story represents tens of thousands of individuals who have contributed their knowledge and talents and energy to help build the St. Peter's Health Care Services we know today."

Early days
Serving just 17 patients the day it open-ed as a "dispensary" inside of the former St. Vin-cent's Orph-an Asy-lum in the city's North end, the hospital later moved to South Manning Boule-vard where it evolved into a comprehensive healthcare system that now serves nearly 4,000 people a day, according to Jon Sorensen, a hospital spokesman. These days, Mr. Sorensen said, St. Peter's is "dedicated to caring for the whole individual - from before birth until the last days of life - with services as diverse as surgery and rehabilitation to long-term care and shelter for the homeless."

The 150 pages that comprise "140 Stories, Remembering People" include a tribute to Sister Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, who established St. Peter's on All Saints Day 1869 with the aid of a $15,000 endowment from the family of Peter Cagger.

De-scribed by Charles Gian-fagna as "a prominent lawyer, civic leader, politician, 'Catholic of the Catholics' and the 'Peter' in St. Peter's," Mr. Cagger was reputed to possess "a large heart, amicable disposition and buoyant character...though Mr. Cagger was very philanthropic, his passion was providing charitable acts for the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, the sick and the friendless.

"He often did these acts without praise or recognition," wrote Mr. Gianfagna. "Thanks to Mr. Cagger's vision, St. Peter's opened its doors to those in need...doors that still never close."

Group effort
Members of St. Peter's Spirit at Work Committee said they aimed to live up to Sister Catherine McAuley's guiding principle that "in the care of the sick, great tenderness above all things" be extended.

One chapter was penned by nurse Ellen Palladino, who wrote the following remembrance of her supervisor, Marge Hess: "I started at St. Peter's Hospital in 1973...one night a very young motorcycle accident victim [who was] paralyzed and on a Stryker frame coded...after he was transferred to ICU, I broke down and cried. Marge came to the floor, put her arm around me and said: 'You are truly an inspiration to the nursing staff.'"

When Ms. Palladino said she felt her tears were a sign of weakness because she firmly believed "nurses were supposed to be strong at all times," her supervisor replied: "You are."

An example of a different kind of compassionate care was contributed by Ernie Venable about Sister Mary Janet Bane, RSM, whom he credits with turning his life around nearly half a century ago. "I came to St. Peter's planning to work in housekeeping long enough to earn $15 for a bus back to Richmond. I quit after a month. Sister Jane sent someone to tell me she wanted to see me...she put me in supervision....I never knew what Sister Jane saw in me, but she saved my life," wrote Mr. Venable.

Wounded healer
Another tribute recalls Margaret "Peggy" Carroll. The following words are dedicated to her in the book: "Included in St. Peter's mission statement is the intent to provide holistic approaches to healing body, mind and spirit. In a time when spirituality seems to have fallen by the wayside, it is a comfort to know there are those people who are committed to helping restore spiritual health. Margaret 'Peggy' Carroll is one of those people.

"Despite her own challenges, she has been a volunteer at St. Peter's Hospital for 25 years. Transported by family and friends, she arrives at the hospital every Tuesday to bring the sacrament of the Eucharist to the sick.

"In so doing, she helps to provide the spiritual comfort so desperately needed by those who may be feeling that the physical aspect of their being is failing them...her dedication as a eucharistic minister to the sick exemplifies the Catholic tradition that St. Peter's strives to uphold."

(To learn more about the history of St. Peter's or the services it provides today, please visit www.stpetershealthcare.org.)[[In-content Ad]]

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