The current building of Ozanam Hall in Bayside (Queens) opened in 1971. For 55 years, people have used Ozanam for short term rehabilitation after a fall or surgery. Or others for a long-term residence where care at home is not possible or advisable. Ozanam Hall belongs to the Carmelite System, Inc. – a Catholic, not-for-profit, health system which provides the platform that involves increasing the availability of geriatric care. Besides New York, other homes are located in Massachusetts, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois with one home also in Ireland. With over 3,500 employees and 120 Religious Sisters who continue to serve in these homes, the work of caring for the aged and infirm continues to flourish as per the vision of the Carmelite foundress: Mother Mary Angeline McCrory, (1893-1984) an Ireland-born immigrant to the United States.
This vision includes the belief that every act of compassion, every moment of presence, every gesture of gentleness is a continuation of the love made visible in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ who taught us how to love not just by his words but also by his actions. At Ozanam Hall, the elderly, the frail, the forgotten, the lonely, and the beloved find a place of safety and belonging – a place where the difference is love. Not just at Ozanam Hall, but in every Carmelite home, the sacred ministry of caring for God’s people continues- quietly, faithfully, lovingly – like the steady glow of a candle on a winter night. Ozanam Hall is named after Frederick Ozanam (1813-1853) – a French Catholic scholar, lawyer, journalist, and an equal rights advocate who was widely known for his charitable works of mercy for the needy.
From my own personal experience, as a priest who has been visiting residents since my own priestly ordination in 1971 – I can say that I have witnessed with my own eyes the care and concern received at Ozanam from both the sisters and the staff. The Carmelite Sisters, in recent years, have had the assistance of other religious orders. It’s delightful to see all the sisters and staff going about their work with such dedication and joy!
About 15 months ago, my own brother Louis was admitted to Ozanam Hall as a permanent resident. He needed the medical care and the home-like environment which Ozanam offers. He has truly found a home there. We were so blessed that there was an opening for a bed when he needed it. We pray for all the families who are currently on the “waiting-list” for an opening. The demand for beds far exceeds the Home’s capacity. But it is worth the wait!
What is offered to those who are admitted is a place of light where there is darkness, a place of comfort where there is anxiety, and a place of love when love is needed the most: in illness and fragility. We owe a debt of gratitude to the Carmelite Sisters, whose legacy guides each day’s work; to the staff whose hands heal and hearts uplift; to the volunteers who come faithfully to visit. Ozanam Hall is truly a place where Jesus is present not only in the daily Eucharist offered in the chapel, but also in the efforts of all concerned to make the difference with love.
Leave a Reply