Hanna Honors St. Marianne Cope with Bipartisan Resolution
November 30, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Together with a bipartisan group of House Members, U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (NY-24) introduced a resolution honoring St. Marianne Cope for her life's legacy of compassionate care and dedication to those she served at the Hansen's disease settlement at Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai.
Mother Marianne Cope – born Barbara Koob – emigrated from Germany to Utica with her family around 1839. She attended St. Joseph's parish in West Utica and was educated in local schools. At the age of 24, she became a nun and would eventually go on to found St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica, now known as St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
"It is an honor to recognize Utica's own St. Marianne Cope who led a truly virtuous life," Rep. Hanna said. "St. Marianne's commitment and selfless devotion to the care of others is more than admirable. She founded two hospitals – St. Elizabeth's in Utica and St. Joseph's in Syracuse – before going to Hawaii to care for exiled leprosy patients."
St. Marianne eventually traveled to Hawaii where she cared for those with Hansen's disease, which is also known as leprosy. Mother Marianne's Sisters of St. Francis and other religious communities were often the only ones who would care for the physical and spiritual needs of the Hansen's patients.
Blessed Marianne Cope was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on October 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Catholics from Central New York, Hawaii and across the country traveled to the Vatican to witness the historic event.
"She was an ordinary woman who is now a Saint and this resolution is an appropriate way for Congress to honor her many achievements which began with good works in the Mohawk Valley," Rep. Hanna said.
Rep. Hanna joined Democrats U.S. Rep. Mazie K. Hirono (HI-02) and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), and neighboring Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25) in introducing the resolution.
St. Marianne died at the age of 80 of natural causes at the St. Elizabeth Convent at Kalaupapa and was buried on the grounds of Bishop Home in 1918. Since February 2005, St. Marianne Cope's remains are located in the chapel at St. Anthony Convent and Motherhouse in Syracuse, N.Y.
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