St. Vincent Regional Hospital opened its doors in February 125 years ago as the first hospital in Billings, Mont. Now part of Intermountain Health, hospital leaders and caregivers were recently joined by Bishop Jeffrey Fleming to celebrate with the community with a special mass and procession to the hospital with on August 14. The mass was held at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral with a procession to the hospital following the mass with caregivers, past and present, members of the Sisters of Charity and community members.
“This hospital has been more than just a place of superior medical care; it has been a ministry—a sacred space where the healing hands of Christ are made present through the work of doctors, nurses, administrators, and all caregivers who serve here,” Bishop Jeffrey Fleming shared during the mass.
“The Sisters of Charity were inspired by the teachings of Christ and the Church’s long tradition of caring for the sick and vulnerable,” added Bishop Flemming. “The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and now Intermountain Health understand that healthcare is not just a work, but ministry; a vocation—a calling to serve others in love and humility.”
The procession completed at a caregiver picnic celebration at Grandview Park where Billings Mayor, Bill Cole, provided a special proclamation from the City of Billings in gratitude of the organization’s care.
“The legacy of St. Vincent is deeply woven into the fabric of our community as a result of the hospital’s success in improving countless lives with its unwavering commitment to excellence. He shared, “I, William Cole, Mayor of the City of Billings, hereby proclaim on August 14, 2024, Intermountain Health St, Vincent Regional Hospital to be a beacon of health, healing and compassion in our community and encourage all residents of Billings and our region to celebrate the hospital’s 125 years of service and express our heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to its success.”
Responding to a request made by, physician and Billings mayor, Dr. Henry Chapple and Billings’ first Catholic priest, Father Van Clarenbeek, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth bravely responded to the critical needs of the community to open St. Vincent. The sisters served as fundraisers, strategists, laundresses, administrators and faithful servants through wars, pandemics, recessions and the evolution of western medicine. The visionary leadership of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and their commitment to delivering compassionate care are central to St. Vincent’s mission 125 years later.
Continuing to respond to the needs of the community just as its founding Sisters and pioneering providers did, St. Vincent has been recognized as an innovator for advancements in heart, stroke, neurological and cancer care. This also includes caring for the region’s youngest patients. St. Vincent opened the region’s first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit staffed 24/7 by Pediatric Intensivists and the only Pediatric Surgery program serving eastern Montana, northern Wyoming, and the western Dakotas.
Earlier this year, St. Vincent was proud to announce its official verification as a Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to providing top-tier emergency medical care to the community. For the past 125 years, St. Vincent has stood as a beacon of trust and expertise in providing lifesaving care. Verification as a Level I Trauma Center is the culmination of the extensive and tireless work of St. Vincent caregivers in Billings and across Intermountain Health to ensure St. Vincent Regional Hospital continues to be the region’s most trusted trauma center.
“This year has been an incredibly special celebration of the dedication of our caregivers, those serving today and throughout our history,” said Lee Boyles, President of St. Vincent Healthcare and Montana | Wyoming Market for Intermountain Health. “The original Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth that founded our hospital have left an indelible mark on this region by providing excellent, patient-center care to all those who came through our doors. We are honored to continue their mission in service to our community, especially to the poor and vulnerable.”
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
