Blessing of the Cabrini Chidren’s Centre, Malvern

Address Given by Archbishop Denis Hart
on Friday, 18th November, 2005, a 10.30am

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Dear Distinguished Guests, Sisters, Staff Members and Friends of Cabrini,

I am delighted to be here with you at Cabrini to endorse this new facility.  Following the Lord’s special care for children indicated in Saint Luke’s Gospel, “suffer the little children to come unto me” (Luke 18:16), Cabrini has always sought to reach out to all members of the community through compassionate, competent care.  You are distinguished for the cooperation of workers in this great institution and for proper management of resources.

The layout and design of the building, the atmosphere where parents are welcome and can walk with their children will help to take away the strangeness of hospital and to engage doctors, nursing staff and patients in an atmosphere where care and a relaxed atmosphere will exist.

In my view the effort made to create an atmosphere sympathetic to children will not only enhance the medical care they are able to receive, but also their recovery, uniting it in an experience which will not only accelerate the recovery, but provide new integration between dedicated professional care and a holistic engagement with young people who may be entering a strange world for the first time.

This initiative is something which we almost have come to expect from Cabrini.  The huge development in facilities provided here and the constant stories which I hear of positive healing engagements with Cabrini Hospital is becoming a legend in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. 

The special gifts of the Cabrini Sisters and their collaborators brings the love and compassion of Christ to those who have most need of it. 

In these days often the only times that we stop are on holidays or when we need medical care.  The welcome, the professionalism and the whole environment provided in this hospital is one which will engage all who enter here with a realisation of the high standard of care and attention to personal needs which is essential to true recovery.

For our young children may this be a place of peace and recovery.  May anxiety be taken away by the professional care and goodness of those with whom they work.  May the rich reward promised to good and faithful servants descend upon all who work in this wonderful facility.  It is certainly a cutting edge facility in children’s and paediatric care.  For this, as archbishop, I am deeply grateful.  I congratulate the Sisters, their collaborators, the dedicated staff and all here at Cabrini.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.