Saint Joseph Berea Hosts ‘Blessing of the Rigs’ for First Responders

BEREA, Ky. (June 16, 2022) – Saint Joseph Berea on Thursday held a “Blessing of the Rigs” event to honor and bless first responders in the Bardstown area, and recognize their dedication to the local community each day. The event was one of several across CHI Saint Joseph Health, which invited first responders to attend the event during which they each received a nondenominational blessing for themselves and the rigs they use to transport patients. 

Along with Saint Joseph Berea, CHI Saint Joseph Health also held this event Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Flaget Memorial Hospital. 

This is the second year CHI Saint Joseph Health has held this event at its facilities across the state, as they help celebrate humankindness in communities. Humankindness is embedded in the call to serve at CHI Saint Joseph Health.

“Humankindness is not only part of CHI Saint Joseph Health’s call to serve our community, but it’s also woven into our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Integrity, Excellence and Collaboration,” said John Yanes, president, Saint Joseph Berea. “We are committed to demonstrating kindness in serving our communities, and we know that first responders have the same dedication and values. We are proud to help show our support for these heroes and recognize their service.”

As part of the “Blessing of the Rigs” event, first responders were treated to lunch and received a blessing memento – keychains featuring the patron saint for each profession, St. Florian for firefighters and St. Michael the Archangel for EMTs, as well as a prayer card that asks for protection and guidance. 

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory Care Center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves. 

About Saint Joseph Berea

Saint Joseph Berea is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Berea, KY. Established in 1898 on the grounds of Berea College, the facility serves residents of Madison, Estill, Garrard, Jackson and Rockcastle counties. Saint Joseph Berea recognizes the importance of family, friends and familiar surroundings in the healing process and provides a breadth of services so that getting first-rate care doesn’t have to mean being far from home.

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