Our Mission

Healing Care for the Whole Person

As a member of Covenant Health, St. Mary’s Health System operates under a shared Mission that guides all Covenant Health ministries:

We are a Catholic health ministry, providing healing and care for the whole person in service to all in our communities.

As a Catholic health ministry, we believe that every person is a unity of body, mind and spirit. Thus, in a time of crisis, medical need or to sustain well-being, we provide both high quality medical care and spiritual support to foster well-being for patients and their families at St. Mary’s Health System, d’Youville Pavilion, and St. Mary’s Residences.

Celebrating our Heritage and Mission

Marie-Michel Archange Thuot became a member of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, or “Grey Nuns”, in 1840. Her demeanor and outgoing spirit led her to become mistress of novices. She later volunteered to go to St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, to establish Hotel Dieu (House of God or Hospital). Her leadership continued and the community grew opening social support houses and places of work for women and homes for orphans.

In 1888, Sisters were missioned to Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, to establish St. Mary’s Hospital to care for French immigrant mill workers and their families. In 1896, the Vatican recognized The Sister of Charity of St. Hyacinthe as a separate community of the Grey Nuns.

St. Mary’s Health System recognizes their patron as St. Marguerite d’Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns. In 1996, the Grey Nuns transferred their ownership (sponsorship) of St. Mary’s Health System to Covenant Health. With reverence for the poor and vulnerable, we continue our commitment of hope and healing in the spirit of the Grey Nuns to spread the good news of God’s intrinsic love for every human being.

 

Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services

Chapel and Meditative Space

Healthcare Ethics

Advance Directives

Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te (I have loved you)

“The Christian presence among the sick reveals that salvation is not an abstract idea, but concrete action. In the act of healing a wound, the Church proclaims that the Kingdom of God begins among the most vulnerable. In doing so, she remains faithful to the One who said, “I was sick and you visited me” (Mt 25:36). When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation.”

Pope Leo XIV

Meet Our Team

Our Mission Integration team keeps our hospitals and clinics focused on living and demonstrating our mission. Members of the team work in collaboration with leadership, clinical staff and our extended network of community faith leaders to provide spiritual care to our patients, their families and our employees.

Charles Demm, BCC, D.Min

Director of Mission Integration & Spiritual Care

Fr. Peter Onwe, OP

Chaplain

Crystal Conant

Mission Integration Coordinator

(207) 777-8100