Honoring Sister Margaret

When Sister Margaret Mary McBride received her first assignment as a woman religious 50 years ago, she was asked to move to Phoenix to serve St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Born, raised and educated in California, Sister says she felt like she “had been sent to the end of the world.” Sister Margaret’s Mother Superior, Sister Eucharia, told her that she would love St. Joseph’s, its amazing team, and the incredible work the hospital provided to its patients and community. 

Sister Eucharia was right. Five decades later, many consider Sister Margaret to epitomize the heart and soul of St. Joseph’s and its sister hospitals. Throughout the years, Sister Margaret has served a wide range of roles and on numerous community boards and committees. For the past 12 years, she served as the vice president of mission integration for Arizona. Despite her many titles, Sister is best known for exemplifying St. Joseph's mission and values, and for ensuring that its long legacy of care and service to those in need continues.

After an accomplished and fruitful career, Sister Margaret has made the decision to retire. In honor of her many contributions, we will be honoring her and her work with with a celebratory luncheon, which conincides with a project she has graciously agreed to continue to assist with, St. Joseph’s 130th Anniversary, which will also take place in March.

While Sister Margaret’s retirement is a milestone, she asks that each of us look at it, not as the end of an era, but as the passing of the baton from the Sisters of Mercy to the employees, physicians and supporters who hold true to our mission and values, and who provide compassion and care to our community.