Saint Francis Holds Commissioning Ceremony to Welcome New President

Valerie Powell-Stafford, FACHE, with Sister Sally Hodgdon, CSJ, Provincial of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery, who led the official Commissioning Ceremony.

The ceremony included a formal blessing by the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford and a gift presentation. Also on hand were several state and local leaders, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and State Representative Joshua Hall, who each gave brief remarks.

John J. Kinney, J.D., Chair, Saint Francis Hospital Board of Directors, gave a welcome before the opening prayer was delivered by Michelle Morgan, Director, HR Business Partner for the Hartford Market. Steve Kunsman, Executive Director, Mount Sinai, offered a reading of Hebrew Scriptures, while Dawn LeRoy, MSN, RN, CEN-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, read a selection of Christian Scriptures.

Sister Sally Hodgdon, CSJ, Provincial of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambéry, the founding Sisters of Saint Francis, led the official Commissioning Ceremony, which was followed by remarks from Montez Carter, FACHE, President and CEO, Trinity Health Of New England, and Powell-Stafford.

To conclude the ceremony, Powell-Stafford was presented with gifts from David Shapiro, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, and Mike Ryan, Vice President, Finance. Attendees were invited to visit with the new President following the ceremony, and an offering of light refreshments was available.

“We are all called to healthcare for different reasons,” said Powell-Stafford in her remarks. “I look forward to working with each of you to grow our ministry to meet the needs of our community and continue to elevate care and provide that level of care that everyone deserves.”

Powell-Stafford concluded her remarks with one of her favorite Bible verses from Jeremiah – “My plans for you are good and filled with hope.”