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Ascension Sacred Heart In Tomahawk Celebrates 125 Years

Ascension Health Care

Community members, staff and leaders gathered in Tomahawk Thursday  to note 125 years of service by Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital to the community.

The tradition of the hospital dates to 1893 when the pastor at St. Mary's parish in Tomahawk learned the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother were planning a hospital in Rhinelander. He successfully made the case Tomahawk needed a hospital too. In 2013, the facilities of Ministry Health Care joined Ascension.

The President of Sacred Heart Hospital, Sandy Anderson, says having a hospital in Tomahawk was greatly welcomed by the community...

"...People, especially women who were pregnant, were traveling great distances to have their babies. Some were being delivered at home, some we're being delivered part way between their hospital and their home. It was advantageous to build their own hospital in our community of Tomahawk...."

There was a mass at St. Mary's in Tomahawk with the Most Revered James Powers, Bishop of the Diocese of Superior and a trip to remember the founding Sisters at Calvary Cemetery on county road "S". They are also having a tea with Ascension associates...

"...Catholic healthcare is an amazing ministry because they focus on providing care to the poor and to the vulnerable. I think whenever we can celebrate the longevity of that kind of ministry in the community and to honor that kind of ministry and legacy, we owe to the community to do so...."

In Wisconsin, Ascension operates 23 hospitals and more than 100 related healthcare facilities.

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