Mercy Flip Book

(above) STATE STREET LOBBY The main lobby at the State Street entrance.

CHRISTMAS PLAY AT MERCY, PORTLAND, 1959 The Christmas season was a very busy time for Mercy Hospital and the Sisters of Mercy. During the Christmas of 1959, along with running the hospital, staff prepared gifts and attended local concerts. Christmas day started with midnight Mass, followed by a 7:30 a.m. Mass, after which many of the sisters were given the gift of sleeping in. Later that evening, one of the sister’s family put on a nativity play. Sister Annunciata, who was the hospital director from 1934 until her death in 1969, described this event in her diary, which she judiciously kept daily during her tenure: “Sister Louise’s family visited- children put on play for sisters- very good.” Also, she noted that their first Christmas baby was born at the hospital that day.

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