Her determination to meet challenges head on, her faith in Providence and those she served and her caring touch are still part of what we at Caritas strive for each and every day. We will honour the legacy of our foundress on October 16 at each of the Caritas sites.

Marguerite d'Youville was a woman of faith, courage and action. "She spoke from a heart of conviction and acted with her hands in service," explains Sr. Marcia Wiley sgm, Provincial Treasurer of the Grey Nuns. Widowed at 29, she was left to raise two young sons on her own while facing the challenges of poverty and debt. Still she rose above her own struggles to be an advocate for the powerless in her society, embracing all who reached out to her with physical, emotional or social needs. She attempted to share God's love and compassion with each one of them, without consideration of language, race or religious belief. "She was a woman without prejudice who truly believed that she could make a difference in people's lives," says Sr. Marcia.

What might she say today to our Caritas community? "I believe that she would simply encourage us to serve with love," says Sr. Marcia. "She would remind us that health care is a sacred service, through which we can be instruments of healing in our broken world. She would challenge us to be alert and attentive to those in greatest need of God's care and compassion. She would remind us that we are not alone in our work and in life, that we are instead a community of people who need one another. Finally, I believe that she would encourage us to take heart amidst challenging times and stretched health care budgets and to trust God's Providence to carry us through."

Each year we also celebrate the life and legacy of Rosalie Jette, founder of the Misericordia Sisters.