URBANA — Due to a lack of available Sisters, it took two requests to bring the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary to Mercy Hospital here. They didn’t have to be asked twice to stay, however.

The Sisters assumed responsibility for what is now known as Provena Covenant Medical Center on Aug. 9, 1926, and on Aug. 9, 2010, members of the religious community not only celebrated the healing ministry they have been involved in for 84 years, but the 150th anniversary of their founding in France.

The day’s festivities included a Mass celebrated by Father Tom Royer, chaplain for 39 years and longtime pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Champaign, in the medical center’s chapel and the opening of a time capsule that was buried in 1964.

Noting that their Gospel commitment is part of their name, Father Royer thanked God for their many years of service to people in central Illinois.

“The Servant Community has taken me in as a friend and coworker. I am a better priest and pastor because of the experience, example (especially patience) and encouragement of this community,” he said in his homily. “They have become an important part of the St. Mary’s community and the whole parish has been blessed because of this group of dedicated Sisters.”

Sister Mary Robert Morton, SSCM, local superior and director of pastoral care at Provena Covenant, said the time capsule contained a statue of St. Joseph and a Miraculous Medal, as well as photographs and newspaper articles from 1963, when the hospital expanded. Uncovered during later construction, it was stored in the hospital chapel until earlier this month.

Founded in 1919, Mercy Hospital merged with Burnham City Hospital in Champaign, founded in 1894, to become Covenant Medical Center in 1989 and became part of the Provena Health System in 1997.

In addition to the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, the sponsoring communities include the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Frankfort and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

Besides Sister Mary Robert, the Champaign community includes Sister Agnes Cunningham, who is involved in translation work for the international order; Sister Charlene Cesario, who does spiritual direction; Sister Yvonne Brais, who is the archivist for the community’s Holy Family Province and teaches religious education classes at St. Mary’s Parish; Sister Mary Kay Himens, who serves on the medical center’s board of directors; and Sister Julia Moriarty, sacristan in the Provena Covenant Chapel.

Founded by Father Francois Delaplace, CSSp, and Jeanne-Marie Moisan, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary have 530 Sisters in France, Canada, Cameroon, Argentina, Cuba and Chile as well as the United States. Thirty-seven Sisters are involved in a variety of ministries in this country, according to Sister Mary Robert.

“Our initial charism was working with the orphans in Paris, France,” she told The Catholic Post. “I think we’ve always been open to the needs of the times.”