By Sr. Patricia Ann Hamiter, CCVI

On April 29, 2017, the St. Joseph School of Nursing Alumni held their annual luncheon honoring the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word at Villa de Matel in Houston, TX. The agenda for the afternoon kept its alumni participants updated on the year’s events including various reports for 2017 that spotlighted the Carol and Odis Peavy School of Nursing by Dr. Poldi Tschirch of STU, the recognition of the 1967 Class of Graduates, and the presentation of scholarships among its activities. All the alumni enjoyed this opportunity to celebrate with the Sisters during their Jubilee Year of 150 Years.

Among the many attendees, it was noted that Ruth Owens Sylvester, a graduate of the Nursing Class of 1947, participated. Presently, she is 91 years old and is the great- great-granddaughter of James Patrick Nash, who was the secretary to the Rt. Rev. Jean Marie Odin, fi rst Bishop
of the Galveston Diocese and financial agent for the first Catholic hospital in Texas, Charity Hospital of Galveston, later renamed St. Mary’s Infirmary. [See references to J.P. Nash in Sr. Loyola Hegarty’s book, Serving with Gladness, p. 51 f, 169 ff.]. Mr. Nash was the only layman to sign documents on laying the cornerstone of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Galveston. To both Ruth Owens Sylvester and her family who have enriched the history of Galveston with their lifetime of good works and contributions of time and talent, we are grateful.

We congratulate all the St. Joseph School of Nursing Alumni for their dedication to the healing ministry in Texas.

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