The three Felician Sisters of North America at SSM Health in Southern Illinois will transition to their next chapter of service on July 1st, 2024 after fulfilling their local health ministry.
The President of SSM Health St. Mary’s and SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital Damon Harbison says they are blessed to have Sr. Andrea Chudzik, Sr. Michael Gurgone and Sr. Monica Szxzepkowski in our lives and they have a sacred responsibility of keeping their Mission and Values alive forever. The three will return to the Mother House in Chicago to await their new service assignment.
In 2023, the Felician Sisters of North America, who currently co-sponsor SSM Health of Southern Illinois, announced the transition from the sponsorship of the health ministries to the St. Clare Foundation effective December 31st, 2025. The action was in response to the changing health and social needs of the under-resourced in Southern Illinois. While in its preliminary stages, the mission of the St. Clare Foundation will be to improve the health and social well-being of the communities it serves in Southern Illinois.
The Felician Sisters sponsorship of St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia dates back to 1939. The Felician Sisters and SSM Health first came together in 1996 to co-sponsor SSM Health in Illinois.
Patients, team members and the community will not experience any changes in the care and services they have come to expect from SSM Health.
