Even though St. Benedict's Hospital in Ogden is now owned by a Nashville, Tenn., company and has changed its name to Ogden Regional Medical Center, its mission will remain the same: "Before all things and above all things, care must be taken of the sick as is they were Christ in person."
That was the message Thursday afternoon during a brief transitional ceremony at the hospital, until then run by the Benedictine order of Catholic nuns.Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, Gov. Mike Leavitt honored the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the congregation that owned two hospitals in the Salt Lake area. The sale of all three Catholic hospitals and 10 clinics to HealthTrust Inc. closed on Aug. 15.
Under the deal, HealthTrust must give up Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City within six months. The other hospital in the sale is Holy Cross Jordan Valley Hospital in West Jordan.
Holy Cross was renamed Legacy Medical Center and Holy Cross Jordan Valley Hospital was renamed Jordan Valley Hospital.
The Benedictine Sisters have been at St. Benedict's Hospital for more than 50 years. They will remain there.
Sister Francis Forster said at the ceremony that the mission of the Sisters is a "commitment to caring."
"This philosophy of caring has remained throughout the years," she said. "Our mission here has always been strong."
Monsignor Terrance Fitzgerald, a former board member at the hospital who is now the chief administrator of the Salt Lake Diocese, said the Ogden facility's name may change, the administration may change, but that tradition will prevail.
He said the challenge now is to make room for change, but the hospital must also keep with the Benedictine tradition of giving "passionate care."
"There was always room in this hospital for people regardless of their background," said Fitzgerald.
Dr. Harold Vonk said the reason for the ceremony was to keep alive the values and tradition of the Benedictine Sisters.
"They (the Benedictine Sisters) used the mission statement for their beacon," he said.
Les Beard, chief executive officer of the Ogden Regional Medical Center, said the hospital has a rich heritage and he is proud to include the Sisters in the new organization.
"Change is good," he explained. "Change brings out the best in all of us."
During a ceremony at the Capitol, Leavitt gave a proclamation to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, highlighting their 119 years in Utah.
He noted that the sisters crossed the Great Plains in 1875 to establish a hospital to care for injured miners and railroad workers.
Leavitt cited the sisters' "selfless service to the people of the state of Utah" and said their compassionate care and high standards of excellence have "given us an enduring legacy which continues to respond to the signs of the times and meet community needs."
With the sale of Holy Cross, a new outreach effort, Holy Cross Ministries, was created to serve Utahns in need, continuing their work in the state.
Sister Alice Quintana was named executive director of Holy Cross Ministries, according to Amy Hollis Smessaert, vice president for communications of Holy Cross Health System Corp. in South Bend, Ind.
The ministries will work with Catholic Community Services, an agency of the Salt Lake City Diocese, trying to help undocumented, under-served and at-risk people, with priority given to women, children and the elderly. The program will encompass education, health promotion and health-protection efforts, as well as social services.
The sale of the facilities did not include either Holy Cross Hospital Foundation or the St. Benedict's Foundation.