St. Anthony Observes National Catholic Sisters Week

(SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT: SISTER KATHLEEN BUSHUR, SSND AND SISTER CHRISTINA MARIE FRICK, SSND; STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: SISTER JANE MARIE HOTZE, SSND, ST. ANTHONY'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PASTORAL CARE MANAGER CAROL GAPSIS, SISTER RENE SIMONELIC, OSF, SISTER ANN VINCENT SIEMER, SSND, SISTER SANDRA SUDKAMP, OSF, SISTER PAT THIES, SSND, SISTER JANE BOOS, SSND, AND THERESA RUTHERFORD, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HSHS ST. ANTHONY'S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL)

National Catholic Sisters Week, a component of Women’s History Month, is celebrated annually from March 8-14 as a celebration of Catholic Sisters intended to raise awareness of their contributions, both past and present. Often the lives and ministries of Catholic Sisters remain behind the scenes, going unnoticed, but leaving legacies that are an inspiration to all they have served.

To recognize their contributions, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital honored local Sisters during the hospital’s 10:30 a.m. Mass in their Chapel, followed by a luncheon in the hospital Board Room. The Sisters were given an update on the hospital’s present and future activities by Theresa Rutherford, President and CEO. They were also presented with note cards as a gift to thank them for their continuous ministry.

St. Anthony’s history began in November 1875 when three Hospital Sisters of St. Francis arrived in Effingham to care for the poor and sick, invited by Father Weis of St. Anthony’s Parish to come to the area. Now, over 140 years later, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital continues in the footsteps of these Hospital Sisters and others that followed, through its Mission “To reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality Franciscan health care ministry.”

For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit St. Anthony’s Web site at stanthonyshospital.org.