Meet Sister Donna Quinlan
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Sister Donna Quinlan
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As a Sister of St. Joseph of London, Ontario for 43 years
it is difficult to respond to what brought me to this particular
community. The statement ever old yet ever new that motivates
me is that we are to reflect to one another God's tremendous
love. This rings strongly within me and is possible whether
in active ministry or simply in our daily encounters. Our
ministry at the Guest Wing at Mount St. Joseph fits beautifully
into this.
After my retirement from teaching elementary school for 33
years the call to work in a more medical type facility seemed
strange to me but I quickly realized a medical background
is not a requirement for showing compassion and hospitality.
The Guest Wing provides accommodation for out of town persons
who are waiting for organ transplant surgery, general surgery
and medical procedures.
Our Guests, already uprooted from family and friends, find
themselves in the highly technical world of our modern hospitals.
Anxiety and fear are constant companions.
We find that our Guests quickly bond with our staff and create
an atmosphere of caring, love and support in a place which
they gratefully call “home”. As the bonds strengthen
many share how they too have grown in ways they never thought
possible. The stories shared, tears shed and hugs given are
often the love that enables them to face the next day.
As a staff member here, I am able to be a listening friend,
encouraging the guests as they struggle through the stages
of the sickness they are facing. For me this has been a tremendous
broadening of my journey. Sickness puts everyone on the same
level and I feel privileged to walk humbly with these Guests.
I believe our ministry is an authentic way of being with and
among those who suffer.
When asked in a media interview about why the Sisters provide
this support a recent heart transplant patient replied, “They
love us. They just love us!” For me this spontaneous
response stated clearly what our vow of celibacy is about
and how that love translates into reflecting God's unconditional
love for all. As ministries change and are less in the fore
there will always be those daily encounters where we come
to truly experience the Sacred.
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