Saint Francis Hospital celebrated the feast day for its namesake, Saint Francis de Sales, on January 23. Saint Francis de Sales, who serves as the patron saint for the hospital as well as for writers, journalists, and the deaf, was also the patron saint for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Chambery, France. Mother Ann Valencia and a group of Sisters of St. Joseph founded Saint Francis Hospital in 1897.
Crystal Miller, BSN, MA, RN, CRNI, NE-BC (left) was presented with the inaugural Friends of Saint Francis Award, which honors a colleague who epitomizes living the Mission of Saint Francis Hospital.
Legend has it that the Archdiocese of Hartford intended for the hospital to be named for Saint Francis of Assisi, but due to Mother Valencia’s origins in Savoy, France, she assumed the namesake to be Saint Francis de Sales. After Mother Valencia purchased a painting of the “wrong” Saint Francis, Bishop Tierney conceded and let Saint Francis de Sales remain the hospital’s patron.
In honor of Saint Francis de Sales Day, colleagues and friends were invited to join Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt for mass in the hospital chapel. Following mass, Sister Barbara Mullen spoke in CIPCI about the history and Mission of Saint Francis Hospital.
Additionally, the inaugural “Friends of Saint Francis” Award was presented to Crystal Miller, BSN, MA, RN, CRNI, NE-BC, who serves as Nurse Manager for IV Therapy, Outpatient Infusion, the Mandell MS Center, Gengras and Burgdorf Clinics, Pulmonary Rehab, Neurophysiology, and Palliative Care. Crystal, who has been with Saint Francis for over 45 years, is known throughout the hospital, earning the respect of colleagues and physicians for her tireless dedication. She is a passionate advocate for patients and their families, as well as fellow nurses and the community she serves.
The Friends of Saint Francis Award, which will be presented annually at the Saint Francis de Sales celebration, was designed to honor a colleague who epitomizes living the Mission of Saint Francis Hospital and Trinity Health Of New England.
(L to R) Valerie Powell-Stafford, President, Saint Francis; Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, Hartford Archdiocese; and Mike Rogers, Mission Leader, following Bishop Betancourt's mass in honor of Saint Francis de Sales.