January 6, 2012
Bishop blesses lighted cross atop Providence Home
The front of the chapel building shows the cross, rebuilt and lighted at night. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
A new lighted cross atop Providence Home Health Care Center in Jasper received a blessing from Bishop Charles C. Thompson, Dec. 21.
The new cross replaces an earlier cross which was destroyed May 16, 2011 by a fire thought to be caused by a short circuit in the wiring of the lights. Burning debris from the fire fell on a large statue of Jesus Christ on the wall of the tower structure, damaging the statue’s right hand.
Bishop Thompson joined Father Angelo Quadrini in the center’s chapel, addressing residents of the care center. Father Angelo, a Son of Divine Providence, is the religious superior for the facility which is conducted by the Sons of Divine Providence.
Bishop Thompson praised Father Angelo for his dedication, then offered a blessing for “the cross above the chapel and all of the crosses that all of us must bear.” After the brief ceremony, Bishop Thompson offered a hand shake and few words of greeting to each of the residents who attended the blessing.
Providence Home was established originally in 1933 as a home for mentally retarded men at the site of what had been the Jasper College, a preparatory boarding school for boys run by the Benedictine monks of St. Meinrad.
When Indiana’s policy changed from institutionalization to group home residential care for residents with mental retardation, the facility became a 66-bed nursing home.
The facility met all state standards in 2002 and currently can provide physical and spiritual care for 62 residents.