Prayer of thanks: Mercy Health - Lorain recognizes 130 years of service by Sisters of the Humility of Mary

LORAIN — Long before Mercy Health - Lorain or St. Joseph Hospital served citizens in Lorain, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary reached out to those in need in the community. Mercy Health - Lorain recognized 130 years of service from the Sisters of the Humility of Mary at a prayer service Monday morning, presided by Cleveland Catholic Diocese Bishop Edward Malesic. The Sisters of the Humility of Mary have served Lorain since 1892, according to a Mercy Health - Lorain news release, through a partnership with other founding religious organizations in the International City. "Women, you were so important to the church and so important to the ministry of the church," Malesic said, looking to the retired nuns seated in the front of the chapel at Mercy Health - Lorain. "This would not be here, because of you, it is here." He noted alongside the Sisters' milestone, the Diocese is also celebrating a historic 175-year anniversary. The Sisters of the Humility of Mary brought a legacy of extraordinary care to health services in Lorain, he said. "It takes a village to make a hospital run. … We stand on the shoulders of some great people, but we look forward and we're looking out ahead" he said. The task of those currently at Mercy Health - Lorain and its other health care sites is a noble one, a calling just like the Catholic ministry MAlesic said. The Sisters, alongside doctors, nurses and other medical staff take care of not only a person's physical health but their soul as well, he said. "You're co-workers of the Lord," he said, extending the ministry of caring for one's neighbor in need to improving health throughout the community. That care didn't stop in the midst of a pandemic, he said, despite the risks Mercy Health staff faced from COVID-19. Sister Carole Anne Griswold, of Rocky River, worked at Mercy Health - Lorain for more than 40 years. Coming back for Monday's service was like coming home. Griswold noted while there was a lot of credit given to the Sisters of the Humility of Mary during Monday's service, they wouldn't have been able to continue their mission without all those working at the hospital system. "So we're very grateful to you and we know that it's only through people like yourselves that the mission lives on," she said. "So I thank you all on behalf of all my sisters." Malesic also blessed new signage covering the history of Mercy Health - Lorain from 2010 to 2022. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.