Reflection and remembrance

More than 10,000 lights illuminated the Healing Garden at Saint Francis Medical Center as the names of loved ones, honored and remembered, were read aloud during the Luminaries for Life service Dec. 19.

The Rev. Patrick Ike Nwokoye, Catholic campus minister for Southeast Missouri State University, and the Rev. Augustine Chibuzo Alilonu, manager of pastoral care at Saint Francis, presided over the event and led the attendees in prayer, Scripture reading and song. Sisters of Grace provided the music for the evening.

"Luminaries for Life is a Saint Francis Medical Center tradition that embodies what the Christmas season is all about," says William H. Kiel, vice president of development at Saint Francis. "It is an opportunity to honor those individuals who have made an impact on our lives. Everyone has that special person or persons who have helped shape our lives. Luminaries for Life provides an opportunity to honor those individuals."

"I have given to Luminaries for Life since it began, honoring family members I have lost, who continue to mean so much to me," says Vicki Sadler, assistant manager of radiology at Saint Francis. "This year I've honored my sister-in-law, Dr. Gale McMahan, whom we lost in June. As an educator for more than 35 years, Gale has always been an inspiration to me. She touched so many lives with her gifts and I wanted to honor her memory."

Since its establishment in 2001, Luminaries for Life has raised nearly $129,000. This year, Saint Francis' Children's Fund will receive the funds from the charitable-giving campaign.

"The Children's Fund was established to help children in need of medical assistance, supplies and clothing," says Kiel. "Some children and families who come to Saint Francis require additional supplies to aid in the healing process. The supplies can be an unforeseen expense with which families may need assistance. This fund enables our employees to provide assistance to those families in need."

The Saint Francis Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization that supports Saint Francis Medical Center by strengthening the institution overall and reaffirming its mission of supporting the community and the people it serves. Formally organized in 1976, its mission reflects the Medical Center's priorities through fund-raising efforts that support the community. The Foundation sponsors several annual events including golf tournaments, Dig for Life, Luminaries for Life, book sales and philanthropic activities such as annual appeals, memorials, endowment funds, planned giving, grants and major gifts. Through the generosity of the community, staff and volunteers, the Foundation accepts contributions each year to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, provide patient and employee assistance, create new programs that help patients in the region and improve facilities at the Medical Center.