Scottish Catholic Observer

Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell led the Mass on April 26, which was attended by politicians, clergy, donors and ordinary people who have helped the hospice over the years.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us at our thanksgiving Eucharist Celebration today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of St Andrew’s Hospice,” a statement released by the hospice said. “We are so grateful for the incredible support we’ve received throughout the last 30 years which has allowed us to provide specialist palliative care to our patients and their families.”

Louise Arthur, of their capital appeal team, said the Mass was ‘an opportunity to look back at the last 30 years.’

“It was a lovely service,” Ms Arthur said. “And afterwards at tea everyone was sharing stories of their experiences with the hospice and even starting to plan how the hospice will see another 30 years.”

The Airdrie charity was founded in 1986 by the Sisters of Charity and since then has provided specialist care for thousands of Lanarkshire patients with life-limiting illnesses. It is now fundraising for its ongoing capital appeal—aiming to raise £9 million to completely refurbish and rebuild the hospice’s Henderson Street home.

The money will go towards an upgraded building that will enable the hospice to increase their occupancy rate by creating more single bedded rooms. It will also be spent on the equipment and facilities needed to deliver modern hospice care some of which dates back to the hospice’s opening.

The story of the hospice goes back two centuries to the foundation of the Religious Sisters of Charity by Mary Aikenhead in 1815.

St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, Clydebank, was represented at last week’s Mass by its chief executive, Sr Rita Dawson.

Though St Andrew’s actually opened in 1986, the official opening of St Andrew’s Hospice took place on November 30 1988.

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—This story ran in full in the May 6 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.