Sister Maria Assumpta, SP, returned to her 33-year post as a pastoral volunteer in the Imaging Services Department (X-ray, MRI, etc.) at Mercy Medical Center this past October following a 10 month absence due to a bone fracture. Now she is back volunteering, doing what she does best—her ministry. “Whether paid or not, this is my way of doing our mission,” she says, referencing both her life as a Sister of Providence and her volunteer status. “I bring a presence.”

Certified in clinical pastoral education, Sister Maria is absolutely correct in her statement, “I bring a presence.” If her purpose in doing so is to offer caring support to patients in the department’s waiting area, that is what she does. If it means lending a listening ear, then that is what she does. Whatever is needed, if it is pastoral, if it helps, then that is what she does.

An X-Ray technologist in her pre-volunteer days, she served in that capacity for over 20 years, nine of those years at the Mercy.

Combining those nine years at Mercy as an employee with her 33 years as a pastoral volunteer there, that adds up to 42 years for Sister Maria Assumpta at the Mercy!

At this point in her life, Sister Maria says she has viewed Mercy from all sides—employee, volunteer, and, most recently, as a patient herself.

Lynn Shewchuk, department manager, had this to say about Sister Maria’s return to Imaging Services. “She’s been missed and it sure is nice to have her helping hand again. Especially,” she added, “because she is a Sister and, being a Sister, she represents our mission here at Mercy.”

Sister Joan Manning, SP, smiles whenever she sees the adage “Live well, laugh often, love much,” on someone’s coffee mug or a decorative wall sign. That message brings her back to her younger years as a Sister of Providence and her memories of conjuring up her goals as a woman religious that would help lead her to a life well-lived. The goals she submitted at the time were, she recalls, “Live, laugh and love.” Goals that, she says, “are still good ones to live by today.”

Over her 60 plus years as a Sister of Providence, Sister Joan ministered as a nurse’s aide, cook and baker. Since 1999, she has volunteered at Mercy Medical Center, first in the Volunteer Director’s Office and for the past eight years, as a receptionist at Life Laboratories.

Toni Mastematao, Unit Manager for Life Labs, says, “Every Monday and Tuesday Sister Joan comes in with a smile for staff and patients. She shows the same service and willingness to help that has been a constant in her life.”

When asked if she had her pick of all the volunteer opportunities available at Mercy, if her Life Laboratories assignment would still be her number one choice, Sister Joan answers, “Yes, the clerks and technicians are a great group and I like the variety of people who come in. Most often it is different people with different needs.”

At the same time, Sister Joan likes seeing the same people. “You get to know them and chat,” she explained. “Sometimes when you get to know someone a bit better you find you can help them in some way, maybe reassure them or offer to help.”

Volunteering—Sister Joan’s way of assuring she continues her well-lived life, a life richly intertwined with love and laughter.