Fondo 16 - Radville Community Hospital and Marian Home series

These records were accumulated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke.

Original order was maintained.

The records are located at The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Consolidated Archives.

Files 16-0002.1 Correspondence and 16-0004.2 Saskatchewan Hospital Association contain sensitive information which is restricted.
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Radville Hospital, Saskatchewan 1946-1998

Radville, a friendly town in Southern Saskatchewan, is situated in the south-Central part of the Province, eighty-four miles southeast of Regina, in one of the best farming districts of the Province. The history of the town is a story of Indigenous peoples and early pioneer settlements which began in the year 1904.

In 1942, the members of the Radville Board of Trade recognized the need of hospital facilities for the town of Radville and the surrounding district. A hospital committee was formed in March of that year with Mr. W.A. McIlrath as Chairman and Father E.A. Yandeau, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Radville as a member. The Board of Trade interviewed Archbishop Monaghan of Regina in connection with the proposed hospital. Later that year, the Archbishop came to Radville to inspect the proposed site and consult with the members of the committee. The death of Mr. Mcllrath was a severe blow, but the committee continued to function, with the result that in May 1946, Reverend Mother Magdalen, General Superior, and Mother Gertrude accepted an invitation to come to Radville to discuss the proposed hospital with members of the hospital committee.

At the request of Archbishop Monaghan and Father Yandeau, Reverend Mother Magdalen accompanied by five Sisters, M. St. Anne, M. Monica, Bernadine, M. Bernard, and M. Joseph arrived in Radville on July 25, 1946. Their goal was to establish a hospital for the town and surrounding district. This was the Sisters’ first western mission and first attempt at operating a hospital.

The small Roman Catholic rectory was made available by Father Yandeau for use as a temporary hospital while the present one was under construction. The Sisters’ lived in a small parish hall located next to the new hospital.

The Sisters coped with the many hardships and difficulties, some of which included a lack of water and electrical power, and limited space. The first patient was Mrs. Paul Laliberte who on July 31, gave birth to a son who was renamed Joseph at the insistence of the Sisters. The facilities were somewhat crude and makeshift. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and carried outside and passed through the window to the patients…but the service was superb.

The formal opening of the hospital took place on October 6, 1948, and brought to fruition a dream for the people of Radville. More than 1200 people attended the opening. The day began with Mass in the morning, at Holy Family Church, celebrated by Archbishop M. C. O’Neill of Regina, who also attended the hospital opening ceremonies and was one of the speakers. Mother Magdalen came from Pembroke to attend. Doctor Pennington served as the first resident doctor.

The following day, the patients were transferred from the improvised hospital to the new modern hospital which had 27 beds and 6 bassinettes.

Work began on the third floor of the hospital on December 7, 1951. It was to house a chapel and living quarters for the Sisters. The Sisters moved into the new residence on June 7, 1952.

The Sisters were very active in the parish. They were readers, choir members, members of the Catholic Women’s League, and much more. They attended all the deanery pastoral council meetings that were held during the year. Sister Anastasia worked part-time in the Marian Home in administration. She was also a member of the board of directors for the hospital and for Marian Home. She attended the parish council meetings and was responsible for typing the bulletins for the parish each week. Sister Alphonsus worked in Pastoral Care in the hospital and at Marian Home. She visited shut-ins in the parish each month before first Friday and arranged for them to receive Holy Communion. She was coordinator of the baptismal team and prepared for the sessions. She was a Eucharistic minister on the lay ministry team. She helped with children’s liturgy on Sunday. She also assisted in Sacramental preparations in Ceylon, Minton, and Pangman parishes. Sister Anne O’Shaughnessy joined the Sisters and became their Superior.

In 1992, the New Year began with only Sister Alphonsus remaining. The things that were dear to the Sisters were in the process of being terminated. Much thought, consideration, and deliberation on the part of the central administration went into the decision. Negotiations with the hospital board and administration was carried out through long distance phone calls and correspondence from Pembroke. Consultation was undertaken with the Archdiocesan spiritual director, Archbishop Halpin. Because there was no Sister available, another Congregation had to send Sisters to minister to the needs of the Radville Holy Family parish and community. Sister Mary Annew Melenchuk, OSU, was selected for the pastoral care position in the Marian Home and the hospital. On July 26, 1998, Sister Alphonsus was the last of the many Sisters of St. Joseph to serve in Radville.

Marian Home, Radville, Saskatchewan 1956-1977

In 1954, the Radville Housing Committee, realizing the pressing need in the community for adequate housing for senior citizens and nursing care for the bedridden, not requiring active hospital care, undertook further developments.

The Sisters of St. Joseph volunteered to staff and operate this home for the aged and provide the major portion of financing necessary to construct it. Marian Home was built, as a wing or addition to the hospital, but operated as a special unit. It provided accommodation for 50 guests, both ambulatory and bedridden. The first residents were admitted on February 6, 1956. The official opening of Marian Home was on April 18, 1956, and at this time, there were 35 residents. One grateful former patient stated, “The hospital is a Heaven on earth filled with angels.”

In 1981 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke transferred ownership of the Radville Community Hospital and Marian Home to the Catholic Health Council of Saskatchewan. While ownership of the medical facilities was transferred, the Sisters still worked at the facilities and owned a cottage retreat in the area for their personal use, which was sold in 1993.

Radville Community Hospital and Marian Home were demolished in 2015. A memorial to the history of the site was erected in 2017.

The Sisters who served as Superiors in Radville were Sisters Freda Keon, Benedict Grier, Kathleen Payne, Catherine Healey, Mother Magdalen, and Agnes Cuddy. Others who have given dedicated service in Radville are Sisters Imelda Coyne, Monica Owens, Bernadine Murphy, Mary Joseph Poirier, Margaret O’Connor, Anastasia Rouble, Alphonsus Phelan, Edna Prince, Ethel O’Connor, Marian Burke, Thecla Matte, Francesca Toner, Martha Prince, Emma Castonguay, Marie Bertrand, Anita Levair, Ruth Wade, Imelda Duquette, Justina Graham, and Clare Wren.

Radville Hospital, Saskatchewan 1946-1998

Radville, a friendly town in Southern Saskatchewan, is situated in the south-Central part of the Province, eighty-four miles southeast of Regina, in one of the best farming districts of the Province. The history of the town is a story of Indigenous peoples and early pioneer settlements which began in the year 1904.

In 1942, the members of the Radville Board of Trade recognized the need of hospital facilities for the town of Radville and the surrounding district. A hospital committee was formed in March of that year with Mr. W.A. McIlrath as Chairman and Father E.A. Yandeau, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Radville as a member. The Board of Trade interviewed Archbishop Monaghan of Regina in connection with the proposed hospital. Later that year, the Archbishop came to Radville to inspect the proposed site and consult with the members of the committee. The death of Mr. Mcllrath was a severe blow, but the committee continued to function, with the result that in May 1946, Reverend Mother Magdalen, General Superior, and Mother Gertrude accepted an invitation to come to Radville to discuss the proposed hospital with members of the hospital committee.

At the request of Archbishop Monaghan and Father Yandeau, Reverend Mother Magdalen accompanied by five Sisters, M. St. Anne, M. Monica, Bernadine, M. Bernard, and M. Joseph arrived in Radville on July 25, 1946. Their goal was to establish a hospital for the town and surrounding district. This was the Sisters’ first western mission and first attempt at operating a hospital.

The small Roman Catholic rectory was made available by Father Yandeau for use as a temporary hospital while the present one was under construction. The Sisters’ lived in a small parish hall located next to the new hospital.

The Sisters coped with the many hardships and difficulties, some of which included a lack of water and electrical power, and limited space. The first patient was Mrs. Paul Laliberte who on July 31, gave birth to a son who was renamed Joseph at the insistence of the Sisters. The facilities were somewhat crude and makeshift. Meals were prepared in the kitchen and carried outside and passed through the window to the patients…but the service was superb.

The formal opening of the hospital took place on October 6, 1948, and brought to fruition a dream for the people of Radville. More than 1200 people attended the opening. The day began with Mass in the morning, at Holy Family Church, celebrated by Archbishop M. C. O’Neill of Regina, who also attended the hospital opening ceremonies and was one of the speakers. Mother Magdalen came from Pembroke to attend. Doctor Pennington served as the first resident doctor.

The following day, the patients were transferred from the improvised hospital to the new modern hospital which had 27 beds and 6 bassinettes.

Work began on the third floor of the hospital on December 7, 1951. It was to house a chapel and living quarters for the Sisters. The Sisters moved into the new residence on June 7, 1952.

The Sisters were very active in the parish. They were readers, choir members, members of the Catholic Women’s League, and much more. They attended all the deanery pastoral council meetings that were held during the year. Sister Anastasia worked part-time in the Marian Home in administration. She was also a member of the board of directors for the hospital and for Marian Home. She attended the parish council meetings and was responsible for typing the bulletins for the parish each week. Sister Alphonsus worked in Pastoral Care in the hospital and at Marian Home. She visited shut-ins in the parish each month before first Friday and arranged for them to receive Holy Communion. She was coordinator of the baptismal team and prepared for the sessions. She was a Eucharistic minister on the lay ministry team. She helped with children’s liturgy on Sunday. She also assisted in Sacramental preparations in Ceylon, Minton, and Pangman parishes. Sister Anne O’Shaughnessy joined the Sisters and became their Superior.

In 1992, the New Year began with only Sister Alphonsus remaining. The things that were dear to the Sisters were in the process of being terminated. Much thought, consideration, and deliberation on the part of the central administration went into the decision. Negotiations with the hospital board and administration was carried out through long distance phone calls and correspondence from Pembroke. Consultation was undertaken with the Archdiocesan spiritual director, Archbishop Halpin. Because there was no Sister available, another Congregation had to send Sisters to minister to the needs of the Radville Holy Family parish and community. Sister Mary Annew Melenchuk, OSU, was selected for the pastoral care position in the Marian Home and the hospital. On July 26, 1998, Sister Alphonsus was the last of the many Sisters of St. Joseph to serve in Radville.

Marian Home, Radville, Saskatchewan 1956-1977

In 1954, the Radville Housing Committee, realizing the pressing need in the community for adequate housing for senior citizens and nursing care for the bedridden, not requiring active hospital care, undertook further developments.

The Sisters of St. Joseph volunteered to staff and operate this home for the aged and provide the major portion of financing necessary to construct it. Marian Home was built, as a wing or addition to the hospital, but operated as a special unit. It provided accommodation for 50 guests, both ambulatory and bedridden. The first residents were admitted on February 6, 1956. The official opening of Marian Home was on April 18, 1956, and at this time, there were 35 residents. One grateful former patient stated, “The hospital is a Heaven on earth filled with angels.”

In 1981 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke transferred ownership of the Radville Community Hospital and Marian Home to the Catholic Health Council of Saskatchewan. While ownership of the medical facilities was transferred, the Sisters still worked at the facilities and owned a cottage retreat in the area for their personal use, which was sold in 1993.

Radville Community Hospital and Marian Home were demolished in 2015. A memorial to the history of the site was erected in 2017.

The Sisters who served as Superiors in Radville were Sisters Freda Keon, Benedict Grier, Kathleen Payne, Catherine Healey, Mother Magdalen, and Agnes Cuddy. Others who have given dedicated service in Radville are Sisters Imelda Coyne, Monica Owens, Bernadine Murphy, Mary Joseph Poirier, Margaret O’Connor, Anastasia Rouble, Alphonsus Phelan, Edna Prince, Ethel O’Connor, Marian Burke, Thecla Matte, Francesca Toner, Martha Prince, Emma Castonguay, Marie Bertrand, Anita Levair, Ruth Wade, Imelda Duquette, Justina Graham, and Clare Wren.

C. Lacroix, Radville Hospital, Saskatchewan 1946-1998, unpublished manuscript.
C. Lacroix, Marian Home, 1956-1977, unpublished manuscript.