ASCENSION HEALTH
An outpouring of employee and community support is enabling St. Joseph's Hospital of Tucson, Ariz., to move closer to starting its chapel construction project.
Because of tight economic conditions, leaders of Carondelet Health Network, St. Joseph's parent, decided to finance the chapel through donations. During a Mass in September at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet asked worshipers to pray for a new chapel at St. Joseph's Hospital across town.
Margaret Gietzen, a rehabilitation nurse at St. Joseph's, was inspired by the nun's heartfelt request. St. Joseph's was supposed to have had its chapel by now, but a bad economy got in the way. Gietzen resolved to participate in a fund-raising drive under way to finally make it happen.
"I can be a part of that mission," Gietzen said.
She included those words in a note as she joined hundreds of fellow employees across Tucson-based Carondelet Health Network who have raised or pledged $60,000 for the chapel and spiritual sanctuary at St. Joseph's, the network's hospital in east Tucson. Design work is complete for the $1.5 million chapel. With $1.2 million already having been raised by Christmas through donations from staff and community members, the plan is to begin construction as soon as the drive has reached $1.5 million in cash and pledges. The hope is to open the new chapel by Christmas 2012.
The network's Carondelet Foundation is directing the drive and reaching across the community for donations. The St. Joseph's Auxiliary has pledged $150,000.
Employees made their contributions and pledges in a drive conducted last fall. John Gimmler, senior director of major gifts for the foundation, said about 15 percent of network employees contributed, and 80 percent of those chose to give through payroll deductions that run for a year. Gimmler said the deductions make it easier for employees to donate.
Chuck Pettis, fund-raising committee chairman, said he has been gratified by the drive's success, both among employees and in the Tucson community.
"In a tough financial environment, this has been a nice breath of fresh air," Pettis said. "The chapel will be a beautiful place for quiet meditation."
Sr. Margaret Anne Vonderahe, CSJ, a member of the project committee, said employee participation "attests to the central importance of having a quiet place to worship in a Catholic hospital."
James K. Beckmann Jr., Carondelet president and chief executive, said the chapel project "speaks directly to our values and heritage as a Catholic health care ministry."
Meanwhile, patients and employees make do with a temporary chapel fashioned from a large room on the hospital's fifth floor that once housed multiple patient beds. The temporary chapel has been in use longer than intended. The one it replaced had served patients, families, staff and Catholics in the Tucson community, and was removed in 2006 to make room for a neurological center and women's center. St. Joseph's preserved the stained glass windows, altar and chairs from the disassembled chapel for use in the replacement chapel.
Then came the recession, which forced the hospital system to place a freeze on all capital projects. In summer 2010, the hospital approved the beginning of design and engineering work for a 80- to 90-seat chapel.
Architects chose an open space near the hospital's main entrance that is partially covered by an overhanging section of the third floor. The chapel will be built beneath it. The project includes a patio and a healing garden.
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