150th Anniversary of St. Peter’s Hospital – Celebrating Mass with Bishop Scharfenberger

St. Peter’s Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special Mass at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

St. Peter’s was pleased and honored to have the Most Rev. Edward Scharfenberger, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, presiding at the Mass on Sunday, November 3. Concelebrants at the Mass were the Very Reverend David R. LeFort, V.G., and St. Peter’s Hospital chaplain the Reverend John F. Tallman.

Providing the readings at the Mass were Dr. James Reed, M.D., president and CEO of St. Peter’s Health Partners, and Sister Katherine Graber, RSM, from St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation. Carla Barberis-Ryan, MHSA, MSN, RN, NE-BC, director for medical surgical services, acute care, led the Prayer of the Faithful.

Gift bearers prior to the Liturgy of the Eucharist were Michael Finegan, president of acute care, and his wife, Stacey; Katherine DeRosa, vice president of mission; and Kathleen Hogan, Esq., St. Peter’s legal counsel.

The St. John’s Bible, which has been on display at St. Peter’s Hospital since March of this year, was available for viewing. The bible is the first hand-scribed bible in 500 years.

The Mass was one of many celebrations of St. Peter’s Hospital’s 150th anniversary, recognizing the four Religious Sisters of Mercy who founded St. Peter’s Hospital on All Saints Day, November 1, 1869. It was those religious sisters and their successors who provided the vision and mission for St. Peter’s to become a transforming, healing presence in the Capital Region.

The Mission of St. Peter’s Health Partners, founded in community-based legacies of compassionate healing, is to “provide the highest quality comprehensive continuum of integrated health care, supportive housing and community services, especially for the needy and vulnerable.”