FSPA donates property to St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Carroll, Iowa

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration continue their commitment to St. Anthony Regional Hospital and the Carroll, Iowa, community through donation of property located just west of the hospital.

“This is another example of the sisters’ support for St. Anthony and the Carroll area to prosper and grow,” said St. Anthony President Gary Riedmann. “This generous gift will help continue the FSPA ministry which began more than one hundred years ago.”

The home is now being used as a residence for the Holy Spirit Sisters, who are actively involved in the direct delivery of health care for people served by St. Anthony. It will also provide a separate apartment to be used by medical students who are training at St. Anthony.

In the early 1900s, FSPA were contacted by Father Joseph Kuemper to be sponsors of the new St. Anthony Hospital. Sisters had been working in Carroll County parishes and schools since they began at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in 1880.

On April 13, 1905, Sister Mary Pfiffner arrived from La Crosse to supervise the new hospital facility. “Under her able direction all difficulties quickly vanished,” reads the hospital’s diary for that year, “her most capable guidance seemed to lighten the burdens usually connected with the organizing of such an institution.”

Throughout the years, FSPA have served in various governance, management and leadership roles with St. Anthony and they still have an active membership role on the hospital and foundation boards of directors. It is of special interest that throughout the years of service to St. Anthony, the sisters have never taken money out of our community for a management fee. “They have been sponsoring a much needed mission of health care service and we appreciate their support,” said Gary.