Miraculous Healing?

According to handwritten annals of St. Joseph’s Foundling Home, in 1890 Bishop O’Hara asked Mother Mary Jackson to have the IHMs assume the administration of St. Joseph’s Foundling Home from St. Joseph’s Society. At first, she was reluctant to do so because she believed the IHMs were founded for education alone. Eventually he was able to convince her to take on the ministry because it was in “the spirit of the Rule which commands the seeking and care of abandoned souls.” 

Sister M. Celestine Moran was born Margaret Moran in 1848 in New Castle West, County Limerick, Ireland. We do not know when she came to the United States, but we know she entered the IHMs in 1878, was received in 1879, and professed in 1881.  Sister Celestine taught at St. Cecilia Academy and Holy Rosary Parochial School, both in Scranton, and St. Patrick Elementary School in White Haven, and in Carbondale. She had experience working with the children at St. Patrick’s Orphanage which she later used in her 30 years of service at St. Joseph Infant Asylum & Foundling Home (St. Joseph’s Center). She was appointed as Superior to St. Joseph’s on August 30, 1890 where she was viewed as a loving, caring mother, especially concerned that Christmas be a special day for the children. 

In 1914, she was diagnosed with diabetic gangrene of the big toe and was scheduled for surgery to remove the toe, but no one was willing to see that happen. The members of St. Joseph’s Society and the Sisters made a novena to Therese of Lisieux, who was in the beatification stage leading to sainthood, imploring her intercession for a cure.   Sister Celestine’s health began to improve and she called the doctor to tell him that the amputation was not needed and she cancelled the surgery. Her doctor was amazed at this turn of events. However, after a long, lingering illness, she was called home to God on Christmas, 1919; 24 children from St. Joseph’s accompanied her body from the Home to her burial plot on our campus. 

How fitting that she should die on the day of the birth of the Infant Jesus when she gave so much of her life to the infant children at St. Joseph’s.