Hurricane Forces Another Move
New Orleans Dominicans Airlifted Out of Harm's Way

COLUMBUS, OH - October 6, 2008 -- As Hurricane Gustav made landfall in Louisiana, six Dominican sisters of St. Mary's in New Orleans, LA, were airlifted to Columbus, Ohio, where they were welcomed at the Mohun Health Care Center, sponsored by the Dominican Sisters, St. Mary of the Springs.

Sr. Anne Kilbride, OP, Prioress of the Columbus Dominicans, was on hand with other sisters, nursing staff and Dominican volunteers to greet the sisters upon their early morning arrival in Columbus. 

“It was a privilege for us to be able to welcome the sisters to the Mohun Health Care Center,” Sr. Anne said.  “Their evacuation from Hurricane Gustav was certainly difficult and we are pleased to provide for their health care needs at Mohun during this time.”

Sr. Angeline Magro, OP, Prioress of the New Orleans Congregation, said that it was stressful during the evacuation first because of the fragility of the sisters, and then the uncertainty of how the sisters would get to Columbus. “I don’t know what I would have done without the help of the Leadership Team at St. Mary of the Springs and the staff at Mohun Health Care Center.”

Sr. Angeline noted, “Sr. Joan and Sr. Mary Edmund, who traveled with our sisters to be present to them along the first leg of the trip, were also a great blessing.  In the end we could see the wisdom of God involved in all of this. God gives us what we need when we need it. All fell into place. The sisters are all safe in Mohun and are saying, ‘We all belong to the same family and all of the sisters here are just like us.’”

Sr. Barbara Hahl, CSC, Senior VP for System Mission at Mt. Carmel Health System, Columbus, was instrumental in helping the Dominican Sisters secure safe transportation for the evacuees.  Brian Pierson, Director of Mt. Carmel Connection, Columbus, arranged for members of the Mt. Carmel medical staff to accompany the sisters on their journey.

The New Orleans’s Sisters have great appreciation for all of the people they met who helped them in their journey to Columbus.  Sr. Angeline said, “We met so many good people along the way, and we were welcomed into an excellent facility with a staff that is personal and attentive.”

Alice Black