Originally published at National Catholic Register
Thirteen-year-old Olivia Connealy is sometimes asleep when a religious sister from the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, arrives at her home in Lexena, Kansas, two nights a week to offer respite care and prayer, according to her mother, Amanda Connealy.
But sisters who’ve cared for Olivia often tell Amanda and her husband Casey that as soon as they enter, the girl’s playful personality appears, Amanda said.
Olivia is always happy to spend time with the sisters.(Photo: Courtesy of the Connealy family)
Though unable to speak, “Olivia opens her eyes like, ‘Okay, let’s talk,’” her mother said.
For the past four years, members of the international religious institute have provided overnight care for Olivia, who became disabled during an epileptic seizure and continues to experience seizures, Amanda explained. Olivia is one of many thousands of sick and mostly dying patients worldwide who the sisters have served in their own homes since their institute’s founding in 1851.
“It’s just been a joy having them in my home — and ‘joy’ really is the word that comes to mind when I think about them,” Amanda said, adding that the family’s three other children have also been blessed. “Especially in light of
