Two Witches Podcast Episode 13.5 Show Notes.

Episode 13.5: Mother Joseph's Birthday Party!

Memes are magical.

Mother Joseph was born on April 16, 1823 - so this month marks what would be her 198th Birthday!   We're having a party. You're totally invited.

Sara hoped to be able to visit some of the other Hidden Brick linked sites that were important to MoJo's life that same weekend, but back surgery is a bit trickier than she'd like to admit. That adventure isn't quite ready to take place, so we decided to look into local events instead! 

Once again, we could do nothing but shake our heads at the Announcement for her special birthday event this year...  (Facepalm!)  Sara's still signed up to attend - someone has to ensure that Historic Trust gets their facts about local history straight, especially since the recent passing of Sister Rita Ferschweiler.

We wish we could say we are surprised... but sadly we aren't. 

To honor our spiritual Mother, we decided that if she had her favorite treat ("a doughnut and a glass of good Canadian Wine, according to Sister Blandine, in one of their last correspondences). Mother Joseph would take it to the streets and share it, so that's what we are doing.

Some of Vancouver's most vulnerable will get a little history lesson paired with a treat this weekend - much in the same vein MoJo carried candy in her pocket for the children who kept her company praying as she worked.  Do something nice for someone in her honor today, won't you? Thanks.

A long standing mystery about a large cross  that bothered SJ was solved recently as what could be called a "reward" for speaking MoJo's language. 

Recently, when recording Episode 15 with Psychic Empath Janet Borkowski, MoJo interacted with us to make herself known as she is prone to do (stay tuned for that). 

As per usual, after SJ spent time with Andrea, immediately after signing off the call she connected some dots that didn't quite connect before, ending up back in the Mother Joseph Catholic Cemetery for the second time in 72 hours.

Taking this turn of events as a sign from both Mother Joseph and Sister Rita, SJ felt that it was time to do an episode that is entirely about Mother Joseph to honor her for her birthday... because she deserves it.

After recently purchasing a pair of 1975 books that Sister Rita was sourced for, SJ stayed up far too late for nights in a row reading about her favorite nun. Unlike many of the "old ass nun books" that she begun hoarding about 18 months ago, this newer book detailing the founding of the first hospital in Portland is based on both interviews of Sisters of Providence that actually knew MoJo and Sister Rita's life's work as the primary administrator and historian for St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, Oregon.

The first hospital in Portland, the original St. Vincent's on 12th and Marshall.

The second St. Vincent's hospital on Westover Road was also built by Mother Joseph. When she was ill with breast cancer she was treated here multiple times. It was known for its modernity when it opened and was built so sturdily it was particularly difficult to demolish many years later when the community outgrew the building and replaced it.

SJ will share with listeners how Mother Joseph once again seems to have rewarded her for going "All In" with things that make her feel uncomfortable as she continues to go deep down the rabbithole of their unlikely connection.  She will also read some of her favorite tales she's learned about Mother Joseph during her recent research, preserved mostly due to the hard work of Sister Rita. We think if you listen to this episode, you too will appreciate what made MoJo so legendary and even "feared by men." 

Sister Rita Ferschweiler hard at work as the Administrator for Portland's St. Vincent's Hospital in 1967.  She was also known for being a historian for the Sisters of Providence in the Portland area after she retired to Seattle. 

The Bishop's House, next to the vacant lot where the former Portland Catholic Cathedral stood on 3rd Street. This was the site of an important decision that MoJo made (in a show of her belief in Divine Providence) that shaped the entire future of the city of Portland.

Shoutout to the Perfect Haired Oracle of the East, Matt - aka AP Strange (Coming soon to Episode 14)! Mother Joseph's started bossing him around now too from the opposite coast of the United States.  Just like us, she does what she wants, and always has.

This is literally an entire episode about Mother Joseph, and it's just One Witch. We told you, We Do What We Want and we meant it. We realize an entire episode about a dead nun is pretty niche content, but don't be surprised that if you listen, not only will you agree that she was beyond unique - she even may make her presence known in your life too... she's pretty loud.