Blessing of Siena Healing Arts Building, altar tapestries, mark

St. Catherine of Siena feast day, hospital’s 75th anniversary

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena on April 29, community members, hospital leaders and employees, physicians, and representatives of the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend gathered to honor the patron saint of St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City through the blessing of the Siena Healing Arts Building and the altar tapestries of St. Catherine Chapel.

Bishop Ronald Gilmore presided over the ceremony which began in the former Garden Medical Clinic, now called the Siena Healing Arts Building. Following the blessing of the building, those in attendance processed to the hospital’s south lobby where the St. Dominic Choir sang, "Gather Us In."

Sister Diane Traffas, OP, herself a Dominican sister with roots in southwest Kansas and St. Catherine Hospital, provided the opening remarks. The Catholic Health Initiatives representative spoke of the parallels between St. Catherine of Siena’s call to provide care and comfort to the sick and dying in the plague-stricken city of Siena, Italy in 1374 and the challenges faced by St. Catherine Hospital today in providing health care to the people of southwest Kansas. Catholic Health Initiatives is the corporate sponsor of St. Catherine Hospital.

Following a Gospel reading from St. Matthew given by Father Jim Baker of St. Mary’s Church in Garden City, Bishop Gilmore reflected on the call to minister to the ill, the brokenhearted, and the dying, much as Jesus did throughout his ministry on earth.

Sister Bertilla Brungardt, OP, led the gathering in general intercessions which was followed by the St. Dominic Choir singing, "Two Were Bound for Emmaus".

The Blessing of the Altar Tapestries showcased the art and talents of Pam Washburn, RN, Ashley Rich, RN, Pam Hicks, PharmD, and Linda Roemer, who together designed and crafted the 75th anniversary tapestry that depicts St. Catherine of Siena, St. Catherine Hospital, the Dominican motherhouse in Great Bend, and the anniversary celebration years. The tapestry was made from cloth from sisters’ habits represented in the Dominican orders’ colors of black and white. The other five tapestries were made by employees of St. Catherine Hospital’s Maternal Child department and were fashioned after the stained glass windows in the Dominican Chapel in Great Bend.

Following the tapestry blessing and the closing song "The Eyes and Hands of Christ," a reception was held in the hospital’s cafeteria.