A Vote for Women's Health this holiday season

The Festival of Trees at Westfield Southlake Mall is in full swing, and among the entries is Franciscan Alliance’s “Spirit of Women” tree. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite tree, and the winning nonprofit group will receive a $1,500 donation to the cause of its choice.

If awarded a donation from Westfield Mall, the Franciscan Alliance Foundation will divide the funds equally between St. Clare Health Clinic in Crown Point and Catherine McAuley Clinic in Hammond. Both of these clinics are mission programs of Franciscan Alliance and operate as free primary care clinics to the working uninsured and underinsured throughout Lake County. The money will be used to provide free digital mammograms to women who are deemed financially unable and ineligible for federally funded breast programs, as well as those who are uninsured.

The trees are located in the center court area on the main level. To vote, shoppers can take the escalator up to the Westfield Concierge Desk, located on the upper level by Macy’s, where they’ll find a voting box and ballots. Only one vote per person will be accepted, and the deadline to vote for the tree is Dec. 24.

Wishing you and your family a Holy Advent and a Blessed Christmas

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
(St. Augustine)

Dear Friends,

In every cell of our body and in the DNA of our souls there is always an ache and longing for something yet to come. We long for becoming a better person, having better health and being in better shape, a better home, a better community, better financial performance. Entertainment industry thrives on our longing for becoming leaner or more beautiful, winning The Voice, X-Factor, American Idol, Next Top Model or the Super Bowl…  We ache in a way that often leaves us dissatisfied and restless inside.

The Season of Advent, which begins this coming Sunday, celebrates that human longing and restlessness. It asks us not to deny them, but to enter them, deepen them, widen them. Longing shapes our souls in many ways. Longing carves out a trough, creates a space within us where something new can be born, where God can be born.

And Christmas is God’s answer to that human longing and restlessness. But God’s answer didn’t exactly meet our expectation. What our world expects is a superstar, someone charismatic, someone rich and famous, a superhero, someone with extraordinary talent, sharpness and muscle-power to out-gun everyone. God’s answer to that: a baby lying helpless in the straw – Jesus, our Savior! Like a baby, God does not out-muscle anyone, outgun anyone, threaten anyone, or overpower anyone. Instead, the power of God revealed in Christmas is the power of a baby, nothing more, nothing less – innocence, gentleness, helplessness, a vulnerability that softens hearts, invites us in, has us hush our noise, teaches us patience, brings us love, joy and peace, and calls forth what’s best in us. Such is the way of God in re-birthing a New You, re-creating a Precious You in His image and likeness. This is the message of Christmas.

As we continue Baby Jesus’ healing ministry in our Franciscan tradition, may we serve each other and our patients with a renewed vigor of gentleness, love, compassion, patience, peace and joy. Wishing you and your family a Holy Advent and a Blessed Christmas.

MISSION AND SPIRITUAL CARE TEAM

Merry Christmas from Franciscan Alliance

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"

--Luke 2:9-14

From all of us at Franciscan Physicians Hospital and Franciscan Alliance to all of you...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Holiday Cheer for Those in Need

For the last two years, Franciscan Physicians Hospital employees and physicians have "adopted" children at the Carmelite Home in East Chicago. These people give of themselves this time of year by donating items like clothing, food and money.

The Carmelite Home, which opened in 1913, has evolved from an orphanage to a group home, to a certified residential treatment center for children between the ages of six and 18. They also provide service as an emergency shelter for babies and toddlers in need of immediate assistance. This center is available 24 hours a day.

The Carmelite Home has helped countless children experiencing personal and family problems. Many suffer the trauma of physical and emotional abuse or neglect, needing care and nurturance in a supportive environment.

Many residents of the Carmelite Home are not able to function academically or socially in the public/private school environment, so they've created an accredited home school to meet their individual needs. Now students who were once failing are succeeding with new confidence!

The impact made on these individuals with help from Franciscan Physicians Hospital's is positive. By providing gifts and necessities, these children can experience the Christmas that they deserve in the loving environment of the Carmelite Home.

Thank you to the employees and physicians who made this possible. Christ's love is shown through your grace and generosity during this giving time of year.

Donating to Those In Need This Season

With Christmas just around the corner and Thanksgiving just behind, it's important to think about those who are less fortunate than us. While so many people have suffered hardship and economic loss over the last year, there are so many more with little or nothing to hang on to.

Our organization, under the guidance of the Franciscan Alliance, works in and throughout the community to help provide for those in need. Our charitable donations go to a variety of programs and provide support to the services of our Franciscan values: Respect for Life, Fidelity to our Mission, Compassionate Concern, Joyful Service and Christian Stewardship.

We rely on the generosity of individuals and organizations throughout Northwest Indiana to help us continue to provide exceptional healthcare to the families in our community and for future generations to come. It's your contribution that provides not only services and provisions to those in need, but hope.

The hope that each person knows they're cared for and loved through Christ. It is his love that is truly reflected by the kindness of individuals like you.

So this season, please give. Whether it is money, time or moral support, give all that you can to ensure that those with less know there's a future ahead.

Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to one of our great organizations that work to provide exceptional healthcare services:

-Franciscan Physicians Hospital
-Saint Margaret Mercy (Hammond and Dyer)
-Saint Anthony Memorial
-Saint Anthony Medical Center

For more information on giving, contact Rob Cummings, Regional Director of Philanthropy, at (219)932-2300 ext. 32554.

There's so much to be thankful for this time of year. Share that appreciation with those around you. From the Physicians and staff at Franciscan Physicians Hospital, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!