Our Mission

Healing Care for the Whole Person

As a member of Covenant Health, St. Joseph Healthcare, operates under a shared Mission that guides all Covenant Health ministries:

We are a Catholic health ministry, providing healing and care for the whole person in service to all in our communities.

As a Catholic health ministry, we believe that every person is a unity of body, mind and spirit. Thus, in a time of crisis or medical need, we provide both high quality medical care and spiritual support to foster well-being for patients and their families.

Celebrating Our Heritage

Originally, St. Joseph Healthcare began as Paine Private Hospital, which was opened by nurse Ellen F. Paine in 1906 to care for the local logging community. She continued this work until her death in 1926 when Carol Strauss sustained the hospital’s commitment to care for the community regardless of ability to pay. Her compassionate zeal continued until the Felician Sisters assumed operations in 1947. The renamed St. Joseph Hospital became aligned with the Felician Sisters who came to North America to care for Polish immigrants in 1874. These Sisters eventually began a ministry in Enfield, Connecticut, which led to their ownership of Paine Private Hospital. St. Joseph Healthcare recognizes their patron as Blessed Mary Angela, the founder of the Felician Sisters.

St. Joseph Healthcare continues its unwavering commitment to provide holistic care, offered with respect and compassion, for all who turn to us in a crisis, medical need or to sustain their well-being.

Each year, we celebrate our heritage and founding during Mission Week in October. It is a special celebration that honors our employees and includes the celebration of Mass, reflection on our heritage, awards, and volunteer recognition.

Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services

Chapel and Meditative Space

Healthcare Ethics

Advance Directives

Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te (I have loved you)

“The Christian presence among the sick reveals that salvation is not an abstract idea, but concrete action. In the act of healing a wound, the Church proclaims that the Kingdom of God begins among the most vulnerable. In doing so, she remains faithful to the One who said, “I was sick and you visited me” (Mt 25:36). When the Church kneels beside a leper, a malnourished child or an anonymous dying person, she fulfills her deepest vocation.”

Pope Leo XIV

The Mission Integration department at St. Joseph Healthcare supports a multitude of programs both in the hospital and in the community.

Our Programs

The St. Joseph’s Pantry supports employees and patients who are experiencing food insecurity. Through generous donations the pantry helps minimize anxiety and maintain anonymity when accessing its resources. In addition, phone access is provided so employees can call if they prefer to request a few days’ supply of food.

This activity support inpatients who are being discharged that need some basic clothing items. The closet is stocked with items such as t-shirts, underwear, sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks. On occasion we also have shoes, winter coats, hats and scarves.

Each school year the Mission Committee coordinates sponsorship of the children attending Kingman Elementary School. St. Joseph employees commit to sending each child home from school on Fridays with kid-friendly foods, so the child has plenty to eat over the weekend and will be ready to learn on Monday.

The St. Joseph Healthcare Healing Arts Program was established in 2014 by a group of enthusiastic volunteers, staff and artists. The purpose of the Healing Arts Program is to enhance the healthcare environment and aid in healing and recovery.

Learn more here.

Each summer we set up our vegetable exchange stand and supply the stand with fresh produce from Good Shepherd Food Bank. The stand also provides a place for local gardeners to share their excess crops with the community.

This is a new program that was created last year by our emergency room patient registration representatives who had a desire to help our homeless population. Blessing Bags are provided to qualifying patients who would benefit from receiving a light snack and basic hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, and sunblock. A hat, socks, and gloves were added to the winter Blessing Bags.

It is proven that art can move, heal, inspire and connect people. The Art Cart is a volunteer program in which inpatients can select a framed piece of art to hang in their room during their hospital stay.

Meet Our Team

Our Mission Integration team keeps our hospitals and clinics focused on living and demonstrating our mission. Members of the team work in collaboration with leadership, clinical staff and our extended network of community faith leaders to provide spiritual care to our patients, their families and our employees.

Mission Integration Staff:

  • Tahlia R. Hadley, Director Mission Integration & Spiritual Care
  • Renée Peterson, Manager Mission Integration
  • Sr. Barbara Theresa, Cultural and Heritage Historia

Spiritual Care Staff:

  • Rev. Dr. Regina Christianson
  • Chaplain Katherine Rinfret
  • Fr. Alou Pilizue
  • Eucharistic Ministers
  • Pastoral Visitors

Related Pages

The Gallery at 900

The Gallery at 900 is host to a rotating art exhibit as well as permanent and loaned collections.

Healing Arts Program

Community Health Needs Assessment

At Covenant Health and St. Joseph Healthcare our mission is improve the health of residents in greater Penobscot County, especially persons who are poor and vulnerable. We strive to meet the many health and medical needs by partnering with area non-profit social and human services organizations, governmental entities, and faith-based institutions to provide resources, education and services to further human flourishing, a fundamental principle of Catholic Social Teaching.

Every three years a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is developed to further these objectives. To learn more about these collaborations and priorities.

Read More
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