Always Faithful

Caring Through the Seasons of Life

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” With spring just around the corner, this passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1 came to mind. Many of us are certainly looking forward to moving from the cold and snow of winter to the warmer spring weather and the signs of new life that come with it.

With that said, the gift of living in New England is having four seasons in all their glory. There are aspects of each season that I truly enjoy and, if honest, characteristics I endure. But at the end of the day, I consider the four seasons and what they represent a blessing.

The next verse of the Ecclesiastes passage tells the story of a day at Catholic Medical Center (CMC). “A time to give birth and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.”

The human life cycle is present around us daily. Some events are truly joyous, such as hearing the lullaby over the hospital public address system when a baby is born at our Mom’s Place.

But there are also those difficult times when we mourn with families who have lost a loved one. I am so inspired by how our employees go above and beyond to be present with patients and their families in those moments.

But each moment is part of life, just like the four seasons.

During my years at CMC, I have realized that our employees are truly a family that experiences joys and sorrows as any family does, often in profoundly personal ways.

We take joy in the announcement of the birth of a colleague’s child or grandchild or seeing the latest family photos, and we are saddened by the news of the death of a present or former employee, just as we are by the death of a family member.

This year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of CMC, we are blessed to have a family of committed employees. That commitment is reflected in the longevity of many of our employees, who have faithfully served season after season, year after year.

Their years of service are a badge of honor. Last year, we honored 20 employees with more than 40 years of service to CMC. Their dedication to this organization is exemplary and a testament to our mission of providing health, healing and hope to those who seek our care.

It is also a testament to how they care for one another as family, through both the joys and sorrows of the seasons of life.

From our family at CMC to yours, we wish all of you a blessed Easter season.

Alex Walker is president and CEO of CMC Healthcare System: Catholic Medical Center, New England Heart & Vascular Institute, and several subsidiaries. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Manchester.