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Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Celebrate 125th anniversary

Mercy Medical Center founders celebrate past, present, future

02 / 25 / 2009

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OSHKOSH, Wis. - Members of various religious orders came together with the public to honor the 125th anniversary of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother at a Mass at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. A reception further honoring the Sisters followed.

Founded in 1883, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother began serving the Oshkosh community by opening St. Mary’s Hospital in 1891. In the spring of 1918, the Sisters assumed administration of Lakeside Hospital and changed its name to Mercy Hospital. In 1968, St. Mary’s and Mercy Hospital merged to form Mercy Medical Center.

“The legacy that the Sisters have left on Mercy is felt every day,” President of Mercy Medical Center, Bill Calhoun said. “This hospital was founded on the values and ideals of a group of women dedicated to helping both the ill and the poor, and we spend every day honoring that commitment. Our employees, medical staff and volunteers honor that commitment, by living out our healing ministry, providing services that promote the health and well-being of the people we serve.”

During the past year, members of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and their ministry partners have been celebrating the presence of the order with celebrations throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean.

“We are extremely proud to be celebrating such an important milestone,” General Superior of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Sister M. Teresina said. “Countless people throughout the world have benefited from the work of our Sisters over the years.”

For the past 125 years, members of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother have been serving those in need in 75 localities on the continents of North and South America, Europe and Africa.

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi was founded in Rome, Italy, by Mother Frances Streitel who was born Amalia Streitel in Mellrichstadt, Germany, on November 24, 1844.

The Sisters are present in various parts of the world, with diverse cultures and realities, mainly in education and health care and particularly among the poor.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is nationally listed among the top 50 hospitals for quality and efficiency (Thomson Reuters, Modern Healthcare). For eight consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI Health (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation – Affinity ranks no. 29 in the 2009 report. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 31st in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 22 family practice and specialty clinics – including two fully operational Medical Home models – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.