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"I prayed that you would always love the poor and that peace and unity
would always be with you."
-- Mother Emilie Tavernier Gamelin
Foundress of the Sisters of Providence Growing up on a farm in Missoula,
Mont., Sister Loretta Marie Marceau learned the value of helping others.
Marceau's
mother would extend a kind word to the less fortunate in town and make it a point
to feed and clothe those who needed additional support. The consistent example
of encouragement left a considerable impression on Marceau who, at 23, decided
to become a Catholic nun.
Almost 70 years later, Marceau is still committed
to a mission of charity. The spry 92-year-old was recently honored with an award
in her name that will be presented to area residents who have made a positive
difference in the community. The "Hope Award" medallion, created by
local sculptor Steve Gevurtz, features a likeness of Sister Loretta and will be
distributed by the regional chapter of Volunteers of America.
"We
know all the Sisters of Providence have helped us," said Marilee Roloff,
president and CEO of Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
"But Sister Loretta has been the face of Sisters of Providence at all our
meetings. She always inspired us to believe in what we were doing."
Marceau
was instrumental in the development of Hope House, a women's shelter in downtown
Spokane that has been facilitated by Volunteers of America for the last five-and-a-half
years. Even before V.O.A. took over the shelter, Marceau helped gather valuable
funds for the cause.
Roloff recalled how, in the early days, the shelter's
board of directors "looked to Sister Loretta to keep their spirits high."
Lynn
Everson, one of the founders of the shelter and the recipient of the inaugural
"Hope Award" along with retired police officer Mike Yates, said Marceau
rallied enthusiasm for the shelter when times were tough.
"Sister
Loretta Marie became our standard bearer," Everson said. "She always
believed it would happen. She never lost faith."
Marceau continues
to stay busy with exercise and rooting for her favorite team, the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
She has scaled back on some of her involvement with organizations like the National
Hospital Association and the St. Joseph's Care Center, where she served on the
board of directors for 18 years. She also spent 13 years in the business office
at Sacred Heart Hospital. The shift, she said, "has meant more time for prayer."
Hope
House continues to fulfill an important role in the community, helping women get
back on their feet. Last year, the shelter assisted nearly 400 women, ranging
in age from 18 to 72. Along with the main location, Hope House now features an
additional 32 apartments.
"Every year, we're able to help more
women," Roloff said.
When presenting Marceau with the award at
a ceremony held at Emilie Court on Nov. 1, Roloff quoted a line from the poet
John Milton in describing the honoree - "grace was in all her steps, dignity
in her eye."
For her part, Sister Loretta gave credit to all the
Sisters of Providence and reiterated the noble purpose served by places like Hope
House.
"God created every one of us and He loves us all - He didn't
create any junk," Marceau said. "These people are treated with real
respect and for many of them, that's the first time. In any condition, they're
taken in and cared for." Want to find out more? Along
with Hope House, VOA's stable of programs includes Alexandria's House, a home
for young mothers, Breakthrough for Families, designed to help at-risk youth,
and Emergency Assistance, providing financial help for food, clothing and utilities.
For a complete list of programs, or to find out how you can donate or volunteer
to a cause, call 624-2378 or visit www.voaspokane.org.
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By
Craig Howard
