“To be known by name, made comfortable in clean sheets, and surrounded by love and prayer, these are the gifts we give to our guests in hospice care at Mother Teresa House,” shares Murray.

“We are Christ in the greater Lansing area for those at the end of life who have nowhere else to go. Some have loved ones who are not able to care for them; others face these days without family or home. Sometimes they share our Catholic faith, sometimes not. God is the one who brings them to us,” Murray emphasizes. “We are his caring words to them, his loving glance. He entrusts them to us, and we do our best to give our guests the opportunity to feel his grace and to accept it at the end of their life.”

Murray, a cradle Catholic, has directed Mother Teresa House since August 31, 2024. She shares that she stepped away from actively practicing her faith for about 10 years while building a successful communications career in Los Angeles, California. She recalls, “The Lord wants everyone to know him, but even while I was away, he patiently waited for me to return and say, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ That experience shapes my approach to the people I work with at Mother Teresa House. I am all about mercy and second chances, and not just given to our hospice guests, but also to their family members and visiting friends, as well as to my paid staff and my volunteers.

“In the last days of our life, God gives us so many unique opportunities to encounter him,” continues Murray, “to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation with people or past events. With true compassion, some people ask, ‘Why must this person continue to live with so much suffering?’ As an observer of people at the end of life, however, I have seen the mercy and patience of God during this season. Guests who come to us hardened by life have the time to feel his grace and invitation. Even over the short time we have together, our guests often change. A face softens. A look of peace replaces one of distrust.” 

Mother Teresa House is a “Social Model Care Home,” offering free care for the terminally ill who cannot access the Medicare Hospice Benefit due to housing, caregiver, or financial insecurities. The first Mother Teresa House opened its doors in Lansing in 1997. The second house, located in nearby Williamston, welcomed its first guest on June 4th of this year. The mission of round-the-clock care at both homes is carried out by a combination of paid staff, hospice personnel, committed volunteers, and family members of the guests. 

“We are well-known at the local hospitals and within the hospice community,” explains Murray. “Last year we cared for about 20 guests at our Lansing location, and we are now seeking volunteers to fully staff our Williamston House. We offer internships with regional colleges, and interest spreads quickly by word of mouth, too.”

Because every guest receives care at no cost, Murray devotes part of her time to securing support through donations, grants, and fundraising events. Yet, like her patroness St. Teresa, her true devotion is found in her daily spiritual practices: an hour of prayer, a visit with Jesus in the Eucharist, and a visit with each guest at the house she is overseeing that day.

“God,” exclaims Murray near the end of the interview, “is on the mountain! Daily he confirms and sustains this ministry. In the end, yes, there is often pain we cannot alleviate. Yet God remains merciful and patient, and we are honored to help our guests encounter him in their final days.”