Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration plans to step away from overseeing La Crosse hospital

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration plans to transfer oversight of Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse to its lay leaders.

Under the arrangement, the hospital will be fully transitioned to Mayo by July 1. It will become a “faith-based, non-Catholic organization,” pending finalization of the transition and Vatican approval, according to a statement released last week.

The group also plans to transfer its oversight to lay leaders at St. Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa as well as Viterbo University in La Crosse. Both will maintain their Catholic identities.

The move will allow the Sisters to focus on other social justice issues, according to a statement.

The Sisters built and began operating St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse in 1883. Franciscan Health System became part of Mayo in 1995.

There aren’t any immediate plans for a name change or changes to the medical practice, according to Mayo.

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