Holding on to History

The 100^th anniversary of St. Joseph’s/Marian Community Hospital

One hundred years ago in 1926, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Carbondale, PA, welcomed its first patients. But how did a singularly focused teaching religious order in the 1920s come to accept hospital ministry?

Bishop Hoban wanted a hospital in Carbondale in the 1920s and he prevailed upon Mother Casimir, the IHM Superior General at the time, to begin the work of reorganizing the existing Carbondale Community Hospital. It was evident that she wasn’t in favor of it, but in obedience to the Bishop, she accepted the task.

In 1925, the congregation accepted the deed to Carbondale Community Hospital. Three sisters were sent, Sisters Donald Murray, Melanie Rowan, both registered nurses, and Magdalen Devine, but they soon found they were operating in a less than adequate medical facility. So, the sisters decided to convert space in St. Rose Convent to an up-to-date hospital until a new building could be built. In a letter, the Sisters at St. Rose Convent wrote, “we’re satisfied with crowded conditions and we’re happy that every space was given over to the hospital except our spacious Chapel and sleeping quarters and one large room for refectory, sewing room, community room, music room and parlor.” On March 1, 1926, the convent building opened its doors under the name of St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 1928, the charter was amended to include “and for the training of nurses.”

Seeing the need for education of sisters and nurses, Mother Mary William asked Sister Cor Mariae Schroth if she would like to go to Minnesota. Her surprised response was, “To Minnesota, Mother?” Mother replied “Yes, that is the Mayos and I thought if you were going, you might as well get the best.” Sister Modesta Walsh went with her. Sister Cor Mariae never forgot Mother’s words as she sent them off. “Now sisters, I am sending you to do something I could never do myself. I want you to know that if you do not like it, you do not have to stay.”

The new building was opened in 1929, Mother Casimir’s council members had wisely prepared for the IHM future in health care ministry by sending sisters for study in nursing, lab technicians, anesthetics, medical records and other specialties required in a modern hospital.

In 1928 when the depression began, patients could not pay. As one writer wrote in the Carbondale Leader, “Never will the poor be made to feel that the accident of poverty has made them any less human, any less entitled to the care of the sisters, the doctors or the nurses.” Money needed appeared each year.

Now fast forward to 1990. St. Joseph’s merged with Carbondale General Hospital. Sister Redempta Sweeney said, “We believe that collaboration rather than the competition model is called for.” One of the board members noted the sisters’ devotion to Mary and the desire of both hospitals to serve the community. Thus the name Marian Community Hospital was adopted

When Sister Jean Coughlin was asked to be the administrator of the new Our Lady of Peace residence in 2005, Mary Theresa Vautrinot assumed the position of CEO at the hospital. Although every effort was made over the next seven years, it became evident that the hospital was not sustainable and had to close. Over the years, 108 sisters had dedicated their lives to the ministry of health care for the people of Carbondale. On February 28, 2012, a candle ceremony was prepared by Sister Jane Connolly for the closing of Marian Community Hospital. The final ritual was the carrying of a candle to the Emergency Room door. It was then extinguished. Sister Michel Keenan wrote, “One cannot help but feel the IHM charism is alive in the region.”

All quotations are taken from: Keenan, Michel, IHM. (2017). The History of St. Joseph’s/Marian Commnity Hospital Carbondale, Pennsylvania 1926-2013.