By Megan Erbacher
The Message editor
Bishop Joseph M. Siegel celebrated Mass July 1 at St. Joseph Church in Jasper to honor 75 years of Deaconess Memorial Medical Center in Jasper.
Many priests of the Diocese of Evansville concelebrated the Liturgy of Thanksgiving with Bishop Siegel, which was celebrated in gratitude for the 75th anniversary of the medical center.
In February 2024, Jasper’s Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center (MHHCC) formed a partnership with Deaconess Health System, which included a strong desire from both entities to maintain the medical center’s Catholic identity and mission.
Amy Young, RN, served as lector for the Mass, and Joseph Munning, MD, led the responsorial psalm. Deacon Gary Keepes proclaimed the Gospel during Mass. Little Company of Mary Sister Renée Cunningham and Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess Health System, served as gift bearers. Music for Mass was provided by the Sisters of St. Benedict.
During his homily, Bishop Siegel said all were gathered to celebrate and give thanks to God. In 1951, 75 years ago, Memorial Hospital opened its doors to patients. Over these decades, Bishop Siegel said the hospital has served as a beacon of hope, a cornerstone of compassionate healthcare, and a refuge for those with sickness and suffering in the Jasper area.
He continued and said we also celebrate the foundation of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, which was founded by Venerable Mary Potter on July 2, 1877 in Nottingham, England. These beloved sisters sponsored this hospital from the beginning, Bishop Siegel said, and they’ve helped make the medical center a living sanctuary of healing, acting as the hands and feet of Christ within the walls of the building and among the community.
The impact of the Little Company of Mary Sisters is epitomized in the presence of Sister Renée Cunningham, the bishop said, who celebrates 60 years of consecrated religious life. Sister Cunningham has served the hospital for 51 of those 60 years. Bishop Siegel said her mission to provide care for the sick is rooted in the Gospel and her Catholic faith.
Referring to the first reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians (3:12-17), Bishop Siegel noted that St. Paul offers a perfect description of the vocation of those who are in Catholic healthcare, as St. Paul writes: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.”
Let the peace of Christ warm your hearts, Bishop Siegel said, and ensure all patients aren’t just treated but are truly cared for.
St. Paul concludes, he said, with a crucial reminder, “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
This is the heartbeat of Catholic healthcare, Bishop Siegel continued. It is the understanding that medical skill is a gift, he said; whether you are performing complex surgery, administering medication or serving patients, it is all done through Christ’s name.
In the Gospel passage, Matthew 25:31-40, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
When we feed the hungry and care for the sick, Bishop Siegel said we are serving a living God. Every time a physician stays late to ensure a patient understands his or her diagnosis or a chaplain offers a prayer of hope, they are looking directly into the eyes of Christ. In this way, he explained that a hospital bed becomes a holy place.
We honor the founders and the generations of dedicated professionals, Bishop Siegel said, who have kept the flame of Christ burning bright, especially the consecrated religious.
As we celebrate Deaconess Memorial Medical Center’s anniversary, Bishop Siegel asked everyone to pray for the continued strength and perseverance of all who work and heal within the walls. Let us ask the Lord to renew your sense of vocation, he prayed, and to keep your hearts rooted in his love.
Bishop Siegel asked the Lord to bless the medical center, all who labor there and all who go there seeking healing. May you always remember to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, he concluded, giving thanks to God for the incredible blessings over the past 75 years.
At the conclusion of Mass, Keith Miller, CAO of Deaconess Memorial Medical Center, thanked everyone for being present and offered his sincere gratitude to Bishop Siegel for celebrating Mass, and for his continued leadership, partnership and support for Catholic healthcare.
“Your presence reminds us the work here is not only about healthcare but about serving others with compassion and dignity,” Miller said.
Miller continued by recognizing Sister Cunningham as she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee.
“Her faithful service, leadership and devotion have inspired countless individuals in strengthening the mission we carry forward today,” he said.
Miller then invited the Mayor of Jasper, Ryan Craig, and Sister Cunningham forward so Mayor Craig could present to her a proclamation for her extraordinary contributions.
After Mass, all were invited to a reception in the Parish Center.