Earlier this month, Sacred Heart Medical Center at River Bend in Springfield opened its doors to patients. The new facility provides Lane County with a state-of-the-art hospital campus in service of its citizens. Many events marked these new beginnings for an institution which celebrated its 72nd birthday in early July.
First of all, there was an advance media event which took place to showcase this new facility. On Sunday, July 13, hospital employees and family members were invited to tour the new facility. An ecumenical dedication was scheduled for July 18. On Tuesday, July 22, I was privileged to preside at the special “Day of Blessing” during which we celebrated the Eucharist and blessed the chapel and hospital. It was my prayer that day that whatever healthcare ministry would take place at Sacred Heart would be guided by the Holy Spirit and reflect the compassion of Jesus Christ, who always made himself available to those who were most vulnerable.
It was back in July of 1936 that four young sisters arrived from Bellingham, Wash., to take over the administration of the new Sacred Heart Hospital in Lane County. These Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace provided the example and inspiration which served as a catalyst for excellent Catholic healthcare in the Willamette Valley. The Peace Health Mission is the fruit of their labors and their prayer. The Peace Health Mission states, “We carry on the healing mission of Jesus Christ by promoting personal and community health, relieving pain and suffering, and treating each person in a loving and caring way.” It is my sincere hope that every facet of that mission will be fulfilled at the new Sacred Heart Medical Center in the coming years.
In spite of the limited Catholic population in the Northwest, Catholic healthcare serves the needs of more than half the people of this region. The credit for this amazing accomplishment rightfully goes to religious women who recognized the needs of our communities and emulated the healing mission of Jesus, who was always present to those who were sick and vulnerable. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace established not only Sacred Heart Medical Center in Lane County but also Peace Harbor Hospital in Florence. The Mercy Sisters established Mercy Medical Center in Roseburg. The Sisters of Providence paved the way for the Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Milwaukie Hospital, Providence Newburg Medical Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Seaside Hospital. In addition, many independent and assisted living centers, as well as nursing homes, can be found in our communities because of our church’s involvement as a provider of healthcare services.
The new facility of Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield is impressive. The same can be said of the new Providence Cancer Center which it was my privilege to dedicate earlier this year. It’s all about healing in our Catholic healthcare facilities — physical, emotional and spiritual. I told the staff both at Providence and at Sacred Heart that I felt like I was walking into a hotel lobby when I entered these new facilities, so gracious and welcoming were the surroundings. They reflect the obvious care for the individual, which is at the very heart of the mission of these institutions. From the chief surgeon to the newest member of the cleaning staff, a genuine effort is made to provide surroundings that support healing and reflect true Christian compassion and care.
When I visited Sacred Heart last month, I had an opportunity to become acquainted once again with the core values of the Peace Health system under whose auspices Sacred Heart presently operates. They are typical of the underlying philosophy of all Catholic healthcare facilities in this day and age:
1) Respect for the dignity and worth of each and every human person; 2) Responsible stewardship in the utilization of all resources — human, financial and environmental; 3) True collaboration among all those who work to bring health care to the community and 4) An honest effort to promote the just distribution of healthcare resources among all citizens, rich and poor alike.
When Pope Benedict wrote his first encyclical he reminded all of us that “God is love.” He went on to say, “As a community, the Church must practice love. Love needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community.” Catholic healthcare has been an important service of love to people here in Oregon. It is indeed a well-organized service. The sisters who established Catholic healthcare in the Northwest did so precisely because they recognized that reaching out to our needy sisters and brothers is very much a part of true Christian discipleship.
The bishops of the United States have long advocated healthcare for all. In a pastoral letter written back in 1981, the bishops called for a “comprehensive healthcare system that will ensure a basic level of healthcare for all Americans.” Pope John XXIII, more than 45 years ago, listed healthcare among those basic rights which flow from the sanctity and dignity of human life. Pope John Paul II addressed the need for healthcare and strongly promoted the availability and affordability of healthcare for all workers.
Last week I referred to the recent statement from the American bishops about forming consciences during an election year. In that document the bishops called for greater assistance on behalf of those who are sick and dying “through healthcare for all and effective and compassionate palliative care.” It would appear that such a complex issue, if it is to be dealt with effectively, will require collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors and across party lines. Our Catholic presence among healthcare providers in this country makes such an effort much more possible, realistic and effective.
We bishops also insisted that affordable and accessible healthcare is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right. An estimated 47 million Americans lack healthcare coverage. Reform of the nation’s healthcare system, which all seem to acknowledge is a necessity, should be rooted in values that respect human dignity, protect human life and meet the needs of the poor and uninsured. Furthermore, religious groups like our own should be able to provide healthcare without compromising our religious convictions.
With the opening of the Sacred Heart Medical Center at River Bend in Springfield, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful work of all Catholic healthcare providers across the nation, but especially in Western Oregon. Catholic healthcare providers are important partners for us in carrying out our Church’s evangelizing mission. In a very concrete way, they live out the call the Lord Jesus gives all of us to love one another with the same compassion that characterized His relationships with all people, especially those with the greatest needs.
