 Camilla Hall – How a Dream UnfoldedThe aging and infirm Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have always been given special, compassionate care by a Congregation grateful for their dedicated lives as religious women engaged in the apostolate of Catholic education and in various ministries in the Church. Mother M. Camilla (1852-1913)It is highly significant that Mother M. Camilla was born on the seventh birthday of the Congregation, November 10, 1852. For it foreshadowed the great work she was destined to do in every area of administration as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
For many years after its opening in 1872, the Villa Maria Motherhouse in West Chester was home for these Sisters. Additional floors were added to the original building to provide increased residence areas, more and more occupied by the sick as the years went on. And, to relieve over- crowding, Sister patients were occasionally given care at Immaculate Heart Academy, Fountain Springs, after its erection in 1927. However, as the number of living members increased and as the life span of women lengthened, the problem of adequate housing became acute. So did the corresponding efforts of each Congregation Administration to meet the growing need become more urgent. First Steps – West Chester
Anna R. Moriarty, RN, was admitted to the Congregation as a postulant on September 8, 1928.During her twenty years in the Congregation, Sister M. St. Camillus (d) placed the nursing care of the sick on a firm, professional basis. Both in Villa Maria, West Chester, and later in Villa Maria, Wernersville, she gave fully of her expertise as a nurse and of her sunny disposition. Two Sisters were sent for nursing training to St. Joseph Hospital, Carbondale. Later seven more Sisters were trained in local area Catholic hospitals. The first two lay nurses were hired for night duty. One of them, Miss Catherine White, remained to give over forty-six years of devoted service to the sick. In April 1940, ground for an infirmary annex at Villa Maria, West Chester, was broken and blessed by Rev. Henry Schuyler, pastor of St. Agnes Parish, West Chester. However, Divine Providence, in the form of the death of Mother Kostka on April 18, 1940, and the outbreak of World War II, intervened. A Home at Wernersville
Mother's request for a Congregation-wide campaign of prayer for this intention brought quick results. In a newspaper on her desk, she saw' a for-sale notice for a summer hotel, Sunset Hall, in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, overlooking Reading. Defense bonds were cashed, and negotiations for the purchase were completed in July 1943. After a year spent in needed renovations and repairs, Villa Maria, Wernersville, welcomed the first Sister patients and a small staff from West Chester in July 1944. The very sick remained in the Motherhouse infirmary.
Camilla Hall – a RealityOn January 26, 1957, Mother Maria Pacis was elected to lead the Congregation (1957-1962). By then she was aware that the location of the Wernersville property was a problem. Perched on a hilltop overlooking Reading, it was surrounded by breath-taking scenery but difficult to reach in bad weather. Its distance from railroads and buses also made it difficult for Sisters' relatives to visit. And, although the special blessing of being attended by the Jesuit Fathers from nearby St. Isaac Jogues Seminary in Wernersville compensated for many drawbacks, the Sisters there longed to be closer to the center of West Chester community life. It was a hunger, a mutual longing.
Camilla Hall was on its way. And, once begun, it quickly became a triumph of Congregation-wide cooperation. "It was the work of the Sisters," Mother Maria Pacis humbly claimed. She, as well as the other members of her Administration: Mother M. Grace Madeleine, Mother Maria Regina, Mother M. Franceline, Mother M. Francis Borgia, Sister M. Rose Bernard, and Sister Marie Genevieve, supported the venture untiringly.
Camilla Hall – A Retirement Home for IHMsFrom the beginning, Camilla Hall has meant "home" to the Sisters living in retirement there. Pleasant interpersonal associations and thoughtful provisions for her comfort help each Sister to enjoy the support of community life so necessary to her spiritual and physical well-being.
Services to the Retired and Infirm Sisters of IHM
Dedicated lay staff provide for the dietary needs of Camilla and many committed lay personnel provide housekeeping and custodial services. Maintenance is under the leadership of a dedicated team of laymen who work to assure that all equipment is functioning properly at all times. An in-house laundry keeps the linens in extraordinary cleanliness for the entire facility.
A resident chaplain provides spiritual care in the form of daily Eucharistic Liturgy, confession, monthly anointing of the sick, counsel and spiritual direction. The Sister-residents are able to continue with the prayer life that has been a part of their entire lives while ministering to the people of God in various parts of the United States and South America. They assist at Mass each day, pray the Liturgy of the Hours in common twice a day, and pray the rosary privately each day. They are blessed to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction daily, as well as the opportunity for an annual retreat. The rosary may be prayed together on certain days for various intentions and, in addition, the Sisters pray continually for all during their personal time for special and general intentions requested.
Pacis Hall – A Home for the Staff
Camilla Hall – A Home for OthersCamilla Hall has opened its doors to religious studying at Immaculata University. While these Sisters reside in Camilla, they commute to the university for courses. By their sharing in community duties and their friendly presence, these Sisters from other religious communities have always been a welcome and pleasant addition to the Camilla family. Camilla Volunteers
Camilla Administration
Camilla Hall enjoys the support, not only of the Congregation but also of its faithful friends. If you wish to assist the Sisters in their work, you may do so in a variety of ways. First, by your prayers for all the infirm and retired Camilla residents; Second, by your financial support; Third, by volunteering your time to assist in the infirmary by reading, letter-writing, serving trays, working with crafts, etc. If you are interested in sharing your time with the Camilla Sisters, please call us at 610-644-1152.
Educational Ministries | Evangelization Ministries | Mission Advancement |
Two characteristic virtues of Mother Camilla ran like golden threads throughout her life: a complete devotion to the Will of God and a complete dependence on His Providence to help carry out whatever His Will asked of her. That deep trust led her through years of community leadership and unparalleled expansion that included the purchase of land for a proposed college in 1908. It was on that land fifty years later that ground was broken for a home for the aging and infirm Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fittingly and gratefully, it was named CAMILLA HALL.
Before Mother M. Kostka became Mother Superior on March 31, 1935 (1935-1940), she had been local superior in Villa Maria for six years. There she had seen first-hand the need for a separate infirmary. But the imminence of war in Europe made for an uncertain financial future and a delay in building. However, during her five years in office, Mother Kostka, a woman of deep faith and prayer, made several landmark contributions that were to have lasting beneficial results for the sick.
When Mother M. Francina (1940-1945) succeeded Mother M. Kostka, she also had experienced the crowded conditions for the sick in the Motherhouse. A deep faith strengthened her natural timidity, and she determined to take immediate action. Again, Divine Providence intervened. This time favorably.
During Mother Maria Alma's twelve years as Mother Superior (1945-1957), she knew that the spiritual and physical needs of the aging and sick were being cared for in two infirmaries. However, because she also foresaw that their numbers were growing, she continued sending Sisters for nursing training and built up an Infirmary Fund to total over a million dollars in anticipation of eventual building.
These needs met an understanding heart in Mother Maria Pacis. She decided to build an infirmary on the Immaculata property purchased by Mother M. Camilla in 1908. With Sister Mary Cosmas (d) at her side, she searched for the perfect spot. It was Sister Cosmas who recalled that Mother Camilla herself had once expressed the hope that our older Sisters would one day reside where Camilla Hall now stands. Later, John Cardinal O'Hara approved the site as an excellent choice.
Sister nurses and staff members offered suggestions for the planning of the areas where they would work. Mission Sisters sacrificed. Novices scrubbed, waxed floors, learned the magic of contact paper, etc. Mother M. Franceline and Mother M. Francis Borgia saw to the thousand-and-one details of equipping the new infirmary with all that would make for utility and comfort. And, as always, the Sisters' relatives and friends backed the project with loving and generous support.
It was Mother Maria Pacis herself who visited the slowly rising building each day, cheered on its workers, consulted nurses for ideas, and poured her gracious gentleness into the busy preparations. Thank-you notes for the smallest donation were her personal act of gratitude to all. On June 2, 1960, Camilla Hall welcomed those for whom it had been built.
Through the annals of the early years runs the warm thread of homelike living. Sister M. Franceline, the first local superior and administrator, was more than an efficient manager for over twenty years. She was "Mother" to all who knew her. She planned well to ease the retired Sister's sense of separation from the mainstream of mission life. Homespun entertainments, Polly Parties, community room get-togethers for holidays, Bingo, song fests, jubilee and feast day celebrations, cookouts, day trips to the mountains or the seashore, —all were social highlights of the year. The Feast of the Guardian Angels on October 2 was identified for the celebration of every Camilla Sister's feast day.
Although Camilla Hall's population has tripled since opening in 1960, many of these early customs are now cherished traditions. Superiors through the years have given high priority to making their Sisters feel very much at home. Varied opportunities are provided for their enjoyment - a day trip to Emmitsburg, Maryland, or a few days' vacation at Villa Maria, Stone Harbor, at the end of the summer, are but two examples.
Sisters may gather in kitchenettes on each floor for coffee, drop in to comfortable solariums to catch the news or a favorite TV program, watch a VCR movie, attend a cultural activity at nearby Immaculata University, go for a walk on beautiful and spacious grounds, or visit mission friends for a weekend. Attractive bulletin boards on elevators and in the halls keep Sisters posted on weekly activities.
Camilla Hall is a long-term care facility that provides assistance for the elders of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As the Sisters age and become infirm, they leave their active roles in the mission of the Church to become members of the Apostolate of Prayer at Camilla Hall. The Sisters use their time to pray for all the various intentions of the Church, for the Congregation, and for all people who have requested prayers or who are in need of prayers.
While
a resident of Camilla Hall each Sister receives the medical attention
necessary for her individual needs. Various doctors and specialists
attend to these needs on a regular basis. Presently there are four
doctors who attend to the Sisters in Camilla on a monthly basis.
A podiatrist comes twice weekly and two rheumatologists come monthly
to attend special needs of the Sisters. A licensed physical therapist
who is a Sister of IHM provides physical therapy if needed or recommended.
Recreation and music therapy are daily components of the day. As
the need arises various specialists, e.g., cardiologists, surgeons,
etc., also make visits to Camilla to visit Sisters unable to leave
the facility to go to the doctor. Camilla is fortunate to house
its own pharmacy under the direction of a licensed Sister pharmacist.
The
nursing staff consists of IHM Sister nurses and lay nurses. With
loving and professional recognition of the dignity of each Sister,
these nurses provide all the necessary care for the resident Sisters
whom they assist. In addition to the nursing staff, Camilla has
a number of Sisters of the IHM who provide a variety of services
to keep the nursing home a religious home for the Sisters.
Many volunteers are needed to assist in various departments and to do many small tasks that extend the services of the regular staff. A college professor comes weekly to shine shoes; a retired accountant helps to provide transportation to a doctor for some Sisters. Others provide companionship, fill water pitchers, assist with the personal laundry of the residents, and help to respond to a variety of other needs. Camilla Hall is graced to have volunteers assist the staff in the ministry of caring for the aged and infirm.
A variety of activities are a part of Camilla and they vary according to the season. Many groups from various parishes come to visit or conduct a bingo party. Children from the schools and parishes in the area come to provide entertainment for the Sisters. On occasion a soloist, an ensemble, or a small group of singers from Immaculata University come to entertain. Children and adults provide a wonderful stimulus and meaningful contact for the Sisters who are limited by infirmity.
Some Sisters assist in various tasks throughout the day. These vary dependent upon the physical condition of each individual. Some of these tasks include: tutoring, office work, switchboard duty, delivering mail, feeding Sisters in need, assisting in the laundry, and performing a variety of other chores that keep Camilla a happy, efficient establishment. They also participate in making craft items that are sold at various times of the year such as the annual spring Bazaar held on the third Saturday of May. Many of their crafts are displayed in the Reception Office and visitors find this a veritable treasure of homemade items. Dedicated volunteers also provide ideas and assistance for the production of the crafts and handiwork.
Occasionally, one sees a dog visiting the Sisters or helping in the Physical Therapy room. A service dog comes weekly to visit the Sisters and they respond well to these canine friends. Those in administration welcome any suggestions that will make the lives of the Sisters as full as possible spiritually, culturally, or socially.
At special times Camilla Hall takes on a festive air. At Christmas eager hands make it a Yuletide showplace. Every corner of the house radiates the holiday spirit as all await the hushed beauty of carols and Christmas Mass. Green shamrocks, Easter bunnies, Halloween goblins and Thanks- giving pilgrims, Phillies buttons and Eagles pennants appear on walls and doors during the year. Jubilee Day in April honors all Diamond, Golden, and Silver jubilarians with a symbolic liturgy, a special jubilee dinner, and community room supper that the jubilarians may enjoy with their invited guests.
On
September 8, 1988, John Cardinal Krol presided over the dedication
of Pacis Hall, a residence for the staff of Camilla Hall. Under
the shepherding of Mother Marie Genevieve (1981-1994), the building
was named for Mother Maria Pacis Dougherty, IHM. The facility houses
Sister nurses and staff and serves as a convent home where the sisters
can be close enough to the main nursing home, yet enjoy a respite
from the daily pace of life in a busy health care facility. The
Chapel of Pacis Hall is dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, "a
title reminiscent of Mother Maria Pacis whose name means peace."
(Mother Marie Genevieve, Dedication Remarks).
The Sisters and the Camilla are not the only dedicated workers who help to keep Camilla running as an efficient and caring operation. A host of volunteers assist in the many "other" duties and events that happen on a daily basis. Letter-writing, turning down beds, making crafts, serving trays, reading to the visually-impaired, wheel-chair walks, decorating for holidays, kitchen tasks, etc., are but a few of the very important services performed by generous volunteers.
Camilla Hall is operated by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Margaret Gradl and Sister Patricia McGuigan are religious women who have dedicated their leadership to the aged and infirm IHMs who find in Camilla a home for the ages.
