The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET
FOR ESTABLISHING ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL
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HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Friday, January 15, 2021
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the contributions of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet for establishing St. Joseph's Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
History has shown us that communities are only able to flourish and succeed when they have health care providers that can help address the needs of the people. Nowhere is this more evident than the pivotal role the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet played in helping develop Saint Paul and the entire state of Minnesota.
Located in downtown Saint Paul, St. Joseph's Hospital was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as the first hospital in Minnesota. As the Sisters of St. Joseph saw the tragic effects of a cholera epidemic in 1853, they identified the urgent need for a health clinic and lobbied the community to help build what would become St. Joseph's Hospital. The ground-breaking facility on Exchange Street was completed in 1854. Since then, St. Joseph's Hospital has served the Saint Paul and East Metro community for nearly 170 years, providing quality and compassionate care for those who need it most.
This core mission of serving those most in need is what caused the Sisters of St. Joseph to focus on providing exceptional child and maternal health care. Whether at St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Joseph's Academy in Saint Paul, or one of the other institutions founded by these Sisters, orphans have always been welcomed with open arms. Moreover, St. Joseph's Hospital has served as a regional hub for providing women the care they need when delivering their child. On a personal level, St. Joseph's will always have a special place in my heart because it is where I delivered both of my children. Like countless other women before and after me, I was provided the maternal care I needed by the best health professionals. I will always be grateful for the tremendous staff that cared for me in my time of need at St. Joseph's.
This past year has largely mirrored the events which led to the creation of St. Joseph's Hospital--but rather than grappling with cholera, we face the challenges of COVID-19. During our current pandemic, St. Joseph's Hospital has acted as an essential hub of health care for my district, delivering urgent care to many, including those dealing with COVID-19. The doctors, nurses, and support staff of St. Joseph's have been serving on the front lines of this national emergency and continue to do so with tremendous selflessness. Whether addressing a cholera epidemic, the 1918 flu pandemic, or the current COVID-19 pandemic, St. Joseph's mission of delivering care to those who need it most has not strayed from the principles set forth by the founding Sisters of St. Joseph.
As Saint Paul and its surrounding area has changed over the years, so has St. Joseph's Hospital, which has now become part of the M Health Fairview network. While I was saddened with the closure of the St. Joseph's labor and delivery center in 2017 and the recent closure of its emergency department, I understand the rapidly changing realities facing the health care industry. I am confident that while the method of delivering care to those who need it may continue to evolve, the commitment to service maintained by the Sisters will prevail for years to come.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in honor of their amazing contributions, and for their legacy of improving the health and well-being of Minnesotans.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 9
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