Katherine Gotshall English did not consider her volunteer work “a spirituality” when she established Operation Peace and Quiet two years ago as a service to Cabrini Medical Center. Katherine saw a need to add warmth and beauty to the Medical Center’s lobby, waiting rooms and environs. She had a vision that the healing people found at Cabrini Medical Center could begin when they first entered the building. Katherine’s creativity and enthusiasm has inspired numerous volunteers who share her dedication to making Cabrini Medical Center as welcoming and peaceful as possible.

A few months ago, Katherine’s vision for Operation Peace and Quiet, “healing space one room at a time” became more expansive as a result of responding to a need that was placed before her. Over the past few years, the Medical Center made available four apartments for out of town patients who receive medical treatment that often requires a lengthy stay. Although the apartments have been a welcome addition to Cabrini’s compassionate outreach and care, they were never adequately furnished. Belinda M. Conway, Senior Vice-President, Mission & Organizational Development, had seen how Katherine responded to areas of need throughout the hospital and sensed that she could move the project forward with grace and enthusiasm. No one imagined at the time how many people would become involved, nor the tremendous transformation that was in store for the four apartments.

Katherine contacted her good friend, Carol Ann Maughn, who has a gift for decorating and who works for Crate & Barrel. Carol Ann jumped at the chance to help by first donating brand new mattresses and then utilizing Crate & Barrel’s gift registry to choose products that would improve the apartments as a place of rest and healing.

The response was overwhelming. Employees from the store, as well as Cabrini employees and friends, logged onto the registry and were able to choose an item that was affordable and meaningful to them. Many of the gifts were given in honor of family members who had been sick or who had lengthy hospital stays. In only a few weeks, enough articles were donated to completely transform each of the apartments into more comfortable and comforting dwellings.

Of course, the apartments were not alone in being transformed. Because of the variety of ways people could contribute to the project, many people found an opportunity to give. Their witnesses of mercy and charity became meaningful examples of Mother Cabrini’s legacy to be “Bearers of Jesus’ Love in the World.”

The needs of our lives and of the world are present at life’s every turn. The peace and quiet that has become Katherine’s prayer inspires us to listen and then respond with grace.

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