- Date of publication 12-23-2004 On November 30, 2004, a group of friends organized an afternoon tea at the United Church to pay tribute to Sister Ruth Wirachowsky for the many years she has served the people of Vegreville and area.
In her work as Pastoral Visitor at St. Joseph's General Hospital she touched the lives of many people, who gave tribute to her for her care and compassion during times of sickness and grief. Sister Ruth's family was also invited to the celebration, her brother Barney and his wife Gisele and her sister Katie and her husband Joe, from Duvernay. Her grade 5 schoolteacher was even in attendance, at this special gathering honouring Sister Ruth, and very present to the occasion saying, "Ruth is still my little girl".
In response to the many personal expressions of gratitude from Clergy and many friends, Sister Ruth spoke of her own struggle with cancer and thanked everyone for the prayers and messages of encouragement that have helped during the healing process. She expressed her joy at having been a Sister of Charity of N.D. d'Evron for over 50 years, a congregation with a long tradition of service in health-care. In 1682 Perrine Thulard, the foundress, began her work of charity because of the great need for health-care at that time in history. She was a woman of courage and zeal with a heart overflowing with great love for the poor.
After 322 years, her legacy of caring is still very much alive today in many countries. The Sisters of Évron have been at St. Joseph's for the past 94 years! During the past 30 years spent in Vegreville, Sister Ruth said that she shared her faith with many wonderful people! "We all love the same God, a God who walks with us and whispers words of encouragement, a God who sometimes carries us when the going gets rough, a God who sends others to be with us in our time of need."
The afternoon concluded with the hospital staff music group singing: "The Prayer of St. Francis" and "Walk in the Light of the Lord" followed by an impromptu singing of the song "Go Now in Peace."
© Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron
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