OSF's New Children's Hospital Blessed

Bishop Jenky and the other "Catholic prelates" in attendance have to be embarrassed with OSF because of OSF's abandonment of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A prominent Catholic Monsignor in Peoria described to me the "corporate malaise" at OSF. And the good Catholic priests in parishes of The Catholic Diocese of Peoria are frequently uninformed about huge moral issues at OSF. One priest explained to me how he didn't want to make Bishop Jenky angry regarding a serious "Catholic problem" at OSF and did not want to even talk to Bishop Jenky about it.

And Bishop Jenky and The Catholic Diocese of Peoria are afraid of OSF's power and money and have given in to OSF on very crucial Catholic issues. And the priests and laity in the Diocese--we just follow along with our heads in the sand.

It's all about money, power, and instilling fear in people so they remain quiet.

Too bad.


Below is the Journal Star article regarding the blessing of the new Children's Hospital at OSF today.


OSF's new Children's Hospital blessed

By CATHARINE SCHAIDLE (cschaidle@pjstar.com)
Journal Star

Posted Jul 16, 2010 @ 03:04 PM

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood quoted from Psalm 118: 24 at the dedication ceremony Friday morning of the new Children’s Hospital of Illinois and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

Indeed there were hundreds of reasons for rejoicing. Speaker after speaker related various stories, of the long and arduous path to the shining new hospital that was blessed by Bishop Daniel Jenky and a host of other Catholic prelates before a contingent of Peoria dignitaries and well-wishers.

Scriptural verses and symbolisms abound at the brand new building which is being celebrated on the 133rd anniversary of its founders, the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.

Despite his pious opening, LaHood couldn’t let a cheeky observation pass. He was among many who believed it was necessary for the children’s section of the hospital to have its own unit. In those early days, LaHood said, “We fought just to get one sign up.”

Today, the $280 million “sign” is a shining light giving witness to the state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the care of children.

With this project, the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis re-affirmed their original mission when they arrived in Peoria on May 22, 1876, and opened a new orphanage and school called “Mount Mary.”

It was while begging on behalf of their wards, that they met the pastor of St. Joseph Church, Rev. Bernard Baak, who asked them to set up a hospital in Peoria.

In October 1876, six nuns led by Sister M. Frances Krasse, set up a make-shift hospital in a rented three-story house on Adams Street. They named it St. Francis Hospital.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Check out the new hospital for yourself this weekend. Two public open houses are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.