Aloha!
“Let us make the very best use of the precious moments and do all in our power for His dear sake and for His greater honor and glory.” That’s something Saint Marianne Cope said in 1900, after caring tirelessly for those with Hansen’s disease in Kalaupapa, Molokai, for 12 years.
She provided a powerful example and reminder for us to be stewards of every moment to make a difference in the lives of others. Every thought and deed had a purpose for Saint Marianne: to bring glory to God. She truly did “Live Every Moment!” That’s why we’ve added this new tag line in our communications.
In January, St. Francis Healthcare System celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Marianne with a number of activities. We honored our employees for their years of dedicated service in carrying on the legacy of caring that started with Saint Marianne. We also named two Saint Marianne Award recipients. And we topped off the month with the 4th Annual Saint Marianne Cope Walk.
Eva Andrade, whose performance from “November Song” at the walk, brought the presence of God to Magic Island and touched our hearts. Saint Marianne was determined to make a positive difference for God, not a name for herself. She fully immersed herself in the culture of our islands, even learning the Hawaiian language so that she could better serve the people of Hawaii. She made every moment count.
If Saint Marianne was physically with us today, would she have joined in our activities? Based on what we know of her rich history, she would have definitely jumped right in with all of us, fully present and fully engaged, ready to seize new opportunities and do whatever it takes to advance the vision of the Sisters of St. Francis to create healthy communities in Hawaii. This is the Saint Marianne we all know and love, and continues to inspire us.
Let’s continue to be like Saint Marianne and “Live Every Moment!”
Mahalo,
Jerry Correa
President & CEO
St. Francis Healthcare System
P.S. I took a video of Saint Marianne at the walk with my iPhone that will help you understand what I mean. Please view the clip below. – Jerry