Original chapel, St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose, Alberta ca. 1925. Photo: 203.2.1-92, Archives, Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.
BY VERONICA STIENBURG
Ninety years ago, Sister Mary Angel Guardian Mangan supervised the building of St. Mary’s Hospital in Camrose, Alberta. The hospital opened in October 1924 and was staffed by eight Sisters.
While, according to the annals, the Sisters’ days were “spent opening boxes, unpacking furniture, trying to place it, picking [their] way among workmen of all trades,” they also had to go to the parish church every day for Mass, as the hospital chapel was not ready yet. The hospital’s annals document how the cold and snowy weather made the journey to Mass quite difficult – and even impossible at times.
October 29, 1924 – The evening brought a heavy snow fall which made the roads bad especially going out to Mass.
November 4, 1924 – The church was so cold that Mass was celebrated in the priest’s house.
November 8, 1924 – We started out for Mass. The wind was so cold and strong we had to turn back, unable to go on.
November 9, 1924 – Sunday – Mass in church 8:30. How delighted we were to hear Father say, “One Mass next Sunday will be at the hospital.” Thanks be to God.
Much to the Sisters’ delight the first Mass in the hospital chapel was celebrated on November 12, 1924. November 12th ended up being an exciting day for another reason. According to the annals:
“At 6p.m. Dr. Craig called to say he had an emergency case for operation, if possible. Everyone got busy preparing a room. Mrs. Edward Kremin, Ohaton was the patient – ruptured appendix. Dr. Craig Surgeon, Dr. P.F. Smith Anaesthesiologist, Sister Mary Mercy assistant, Sister Mary Alban and Miss Green circulating. Another problem – who will stay up with the patient. Sister Mary Alban solved that problem.”
This seems to have been the first operation in the new hospital.
The chapel was furnished over the next year, including the purchase of an organ in late November 1924, the erection of the Stations of the Cross in February 1925, and the arrival of the statues of Our Lady and St. Joseph on December 18, 1925 (visible in the photograph) and the acquisition of a wax infant for the Christmas crib for Christmas 1925.
