My first Magazine St Joseph's Home_40th Anniversary magazine.compres | Page 9

St Joseph’s Statue
St Joseph at
the old home
St Joseph at the new home
Bougainvillea in new home
Old Home
Bougainvillea
plants
WHAT IS IT? The home’s equivalent
of the Vanda Ms Joaquim, the humble
bougainvillea is a fixture everywhere
you turn. At the new home, the vines
and bushes weave their way across
the residential building facade
among other structures, adding
colour and greenery to an otherwise
drab exterior.
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1978
WHY IT MATTERS: It’s the home’s
‘National Flower’. It is also a symbol of
resilience, reminding us of the need
to stay strong in tough times. Once
their roots are established, ‘bous’
need very little water to survive.
WHAT IS IT? For over three decades, he has stood watch
over the home with the calm assurance of a father and
steady gaze of a moth er at her child. He continues to bear
witness to life’s pivotal moments as the home enters a new
phase of her life, this time with very young children in tow. .
YEAR OF BIRTH: 1980s. He came into the accidental
possession of the home after the Redemptorists - a
community of Catholic priests - gave it to the Sisters while
its rightful owner Fr O’Neil was on holiday. Fr O’Neil had
bought the statue from Italy. Upon seeing that the statue
gave visitors and residents peace, Fr O’Neil too felt at ease
leaving it at the home.
WHY IT MATTERS: Through its pioneering work in caring
for the dying, the home which bears his name has become
synonymous with good hospice care in Singapore.
Regarded as the earthly father of Jesus and husband of His
mother Mary, St Joseph is also the patron saint of families
and working people, all of whom make up a good number of
visitors to the home.
The Life of St
Magdalene of Canossa
WHAT IS IT? She is the foundress of the Canossian Sisters’
Catholic Order - Canossian Daughters of Charity - and they
have been running St Joseph’s Home since day one. Born
into Italian nobility in the city of Verona, Italy, St Magdalene
chose to dedicate her life to the sick, the poor and the dying
instead. She was also involved in the education of girls. Her
enduring spirit lives on in the work of the Sisters as well as
through the legion of lay canossians - ordinary people - who
have chosen to follow in St Magdalene’s footsteps to be
witnesses of God’s love in society.
YEAR OF BIRTH: Born in 1774, St Magdalene founded the
Canossian Daughters of Charity in 1808
WHY IT MATTERS: Her riches-to-rags story is a daily
reminder to stay humble and focused on our calling in life.
It is also an
inspiration to
use our talents
for the greater
good of the
community.
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