Ceremonies held for the Chapels at St. Luke's

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - At St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital, the spiritual aspect of its medical care is an integral part of their mission to provide faithful, loving care in a healing environment. As a reflection of that mission, the Chapel Emmanuel inside St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital and the Holy Cross Chapel inside St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital were recently honored with consecration and dedication ceremonies.

The celebration of this special event was led by The Right Reverend Dena A. Harrison, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. It was attended by Dr. David Fine, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, and by the Board of Directors for St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital. Assisting in the ceremonies at St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital were Chaplain Randall Trego and Debra F. Sukin, CEO of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital and St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital, along with Diane Freeman, Chief Nursing Officer of St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital. Remarks were offered by The Reverend Gary H. Jones, Director of Chaplaincy Services at St. Luke’s in the Texas Medical Center.

According to Sukin, the placement of the Chapel was very purposeful during the hospital’s architectural design phase. “Chapel Emmanuel is located at the heart of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital as a place of solitude and healing for the mind, body and spirit. It provides a sacred place of worship and peace for people of many faiths, and represents the foundation of who we are and what we do,” Sukin said.

Rev. Jones added, “We have gathered to renew and enliven that culture of St. Luke’s that makes it so unique – that spiritual aspect that is a part of the healing presence that gives an extra measure of wisdom, courage and grace. These chapels are an extension of God’s presence in this world.”

Chapel Emmanuel features a large stained-glass window which represents the movement of water passing through a hand. “It serves as a reminder of St. Luke’s most valued tradition which originated here — the Blessing of the Hands,” explains Chaplain Trego. “This ritual represents, through the labor of our hands, that God continues to be present in our community, offering healing and grace to all who come here. Even as our staff use their hands to care for others, they too are held and cared for in the hands of God. Since the tradition began in 2003, over 1,018 staff members and physicians have had their hands blessed in this Chapel.”

Trego illustrated that the image of water in the window continues to fall downward and surrounds the presence of a caregiver and care-receiver. The water then becomes a triple spiral, a Celtic symbol of three, and progresses upward into an illustration of the sunrise and night sky. “This symbolizes how Faithful, Loving Care is offered to our hospital staff, which serve as the presence of light even in our patients’ most difficult times,” he continued.

Diane McNamee of St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital, remarked, “Our Holy Cross Chapel is special because it is adorned with many unique and thoughtful, loving donations. When Lakeside Hospital’s construction was completed, there was no money left for Chapel decorations. But people came forward and made a difference. The culture of this hospital shines thought with a spirit of giving and caring every time I walk into the Chapel, reminding us that God is with us no matter where we are.”