The Rev. Anthony Janik, spiritual services director, blesses a new cross and garden area outside of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point during a ceremony on Oct. 4, which also was the Feast Day of St. Francis. The cross and Christ figure replace those that were damaged when a previous cross, estimated to be more than 50 years old that had stood at the site since the hospital opened in 1974, fell and was irreparably damaged last November.
Hospital president David Ruskowski said during remarks at the program staff members were shocked when the accident happened and that they, visitors and patients, kept asking when a new one would be erected. “The cross was very special to all of us,” he added. Ruskowski thanked local members of the Knights of Columbus for providing the corpus, Schilling Bros. company of St. John for donating the wood, Tonn and Blank Construction of Michigan City for assembling the cross, and Lakeshore Landscaping of Valparaiso for installing the garden and pavers that surround the cross and can be engraved and used to honor loved ones. Ruskowski also thanked Rob Florkiewicz, hospital project manager, for coordinating the work.
The program also honored the 150th anniversary this year of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, founders of Franciscan Alliance. Tony Englert, regional executive director of the Franciscan Alliance Foundation, praised the sisters during remarks, adding, “none of this would be possible without them and their great ministry.” Local Knights of Columbus members served as an honor guard during the event.