[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 9 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET 
                 FOR ESTABLISHING ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          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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