Dominican Sisters Of Hope Thank Assisted Care Facility Workers

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Outside The Wartburg in Mount Vernon, members of the Dominican Sisters of Hope are waving at the windows.

That's because inside Wartburg are some of their fellow nuns, whom they have not been able to visit for two months since New York's assisted living facilities and nursing homes were shut to visitors. It's a hardship for anyone, most certainly for the members of the order, who are accustomed to care for each other when sick.

Along with the waving, they're bringing pizzas and thank you cards. Those are for the staff at Wartburg, in appreciation for their tireless work to defend their charges from the new coronavirus.

"We wish that we could be with them and thank them in person, but this is the least we could do given the circumstances," said Dominican Sister of Hope Margaret Anderson, OP, a member of the group's leadership team.

This week, the sisters are buying lunch for the employees at the Wartburg and Brandywine at Wall Senior Living in Wall, New Jersey. Both senior care facilities are home to a number of Dominican Sisters of Hope.

The pizza-and-salad lunches are spread over three days (Tuesday-Thursday) to coincide with the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena on April 29. In addition to being an appreciation of health care workers, the lunches are also a celebration of the legacy of Catherine of Siena, who was named a Doctor of the Church 50 years ago this year.

Catherine ministered to the sick in Siena during the Plague in the 1300s.

Along with lunch, the sisters delivered thank you cards to the administrators at each facility. Of course the lunches and accompanying thank you cards are dropped off at a 6-foot distance while wearing masks.