Forty Year Celebration of St. Andrew’s Hospice, Airdrie, Scotland.

The dream of St. Andrew’s Hospice began to be realized in 1984 when a plot of land was secured with the help of Sr. Magdalene Joseph and Mr. Desmond O’ Donnell. Building soon began and the Hospice was completed in March 1986 when the keys were handed over Tuesday of Holy Week.

During those two years so much was achieved because of the great generosity of so many people of different faiths, some of whom said to Sr. Barbara Kenny : “You Sisters of Charity will never realize the good you have accomplished for Christian Unity here in Airdrie” And now today on this same month some forty years later as we are celebrating that huge milestone and a dream come true for so many. Joy the CEO pointed out “this is not just an opportunity to celebrate and reminisce but also an occasion to look ahead and renew our commitment to serve”.

And reminisce we did with gusto and thanksgiving. Saturday April 26 ,1986, the date set for move to the new building dawned bright and early for the Community. At this stage there was nothing else to be removed except the patients themselves.

The move began at 8:30AM and by 2:00 PM that afternoon with the help of a team of rugby men the beds etc. came out of Assumption house with great speed while the patients chatted in the sitting room with Fr. Foley who entertained them royally. Soon the old convent was practically empty and St. Andrew’s full.

The patients loved their new home so much that some offered to pay for their dinner as they thought they were in a beautiful hotel.

The opening Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the chapel of the new hospice that evening at 7:30 P.M

And so the reminiscing continued as many tales were told. One such story was that of a dying man’s last request. He wanted to say goodbye to his old horse. And guess what? To the delight of all present especially his family, the horse was brought to him.

Another old man longed to see his old farm for the last time and yes, nothing daunted, the tractor was rigged up so that he could drive around his own fields once again accompanied no doubt by competent and eager staff. Such was the ingenuity of the sisters and staff in those early days that I feel our dear Mary Aikenhead must have been enjoying all of this in Heaven, as like herself, the sisters took the necessary risks to accomplish all in the service of our Compassionate Lord.

But now let us fast forward forty years to this time and space of the actual celebration.
April 26, 2026 saw us entering Airdrie Town Hall to the sounds of the famous NLC School Pipe Band as we were escorted to our places of honour. Des Clarke, the local entertainer and Master of Ceremonies, welcomed a packed hall as he spoke of what a real privilege it was for him personally to be leading the celebrations of the evening.

“It gives us an opportunity to recognize the people at the heart of our story, our founders the Religious Sisters of Charity, whose vision and commitment started it all.” With such a statement he set the stage for introducing Sr. Barbara Kenny, herself a founding member who, with two others, travelled from Hackney to be present for the occasion. As Barbara gave both a vivid and eloquent account of that last day and new beginning, not a sound could be heard in that vast hall. The applause that followed was thunderous and sustained which spoke for the great admiration in which the sisters were held.

Many other prominent speakers came forward representing the staff and volunteers who gave so generously of their skills and personal experiences both in nursing and in fundraising. These experiences were interspersed by a wonderful choir called The Grace Notes whose song, “I’ll be there”, resonated in our hearts and throughout the assembly present.

The video presentation of “Forty Years of Compassion” enhanced and gave flesh to the written and spoken word of service over the forty years.

One memorable image is that of our much beloved Sr. Catherine, captured in mid-air parachuting from a plane – all in good fun and for a greater cause.
And the donations came pouring in, and they continue to keep pouring in to this very day and for this great cause.

And today our Sisters continue to provide pastoral support to patients, relatives and staff in the Hospice, while they embody Christian unity as did our founding Sisters some forty years ago.
May God be praised!
Amen Amen!!!!

 

This is the link to the short video which was done for the Anniversary Celebration, this is now on YouTube, it features Sr Catherine’s story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qffe1UFlUI