HISTORIC BROWNSVILLE CHAPEL TO RE-OPEN FRIDAY, MARCH 30 AFTER 3 DECADES AS HOSPITAL BILL-PROCESSING CENTER

BROWNSVILLE, March 26, 2007  –- BROWNSVILLE, March 26, 2007 -- A historic piece of Brownsville will come back from the past this week, as a hospital chapel built by the Sisters of Mercy in 1935 will re-open after spending the last three decades as a bill processing center and purchasing department storage area.

The re-opening and restoration of the chapel at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville means that Brownsville patients -- and residents coping with the illness of a loved one -- will once again have a beautiful place to pray, worship and meditate. Valley Baptist sought to restore the chapel soon after purchasing the hospital in 2004, and the extensive restoration has been made possible by the generosity of Valley residents and hospital staff.

Reflecting the ecumenical cooperation in restoring the chapel, Bishop Raymundo Peńa and Valley Baptist chaplains, board members, and administrators will come together for a dedication ceremony this week. And while the beautification efforts are continuing, the chapel will re-open to the public this Friday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by VBMC-Brownsville.

The large chapel -- which encompasses 2,154 square feet – is housed in a historic building located just a few steps behind VBMC’s Brownsville’s main patient tower at Central Blvd. and West Jefferson Street. The three-story building -- which once included a convent -- was built in 1935 and blessed by Bishop M.S. Garriga, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. That was 12 years after the Sisters of Mercy opened the original Mercy Hospital, which contained a smaller chapel, in 1923.

In the 1970’s, Mercy Hospital was sold to a proprietary company from outside the Valley. But the hospital returned to community-based ownership in 2004, when Valley Baptist purchased the hospital. Soon after, the idea of restoring the chapel was proposed by a pioneering Brownsville family, who recognized that Brownsville’s first and largest hospital had returned to its roots -- as part of a faith-based organization.

“It makes sense that a hospital founded on religious principles would have a place of worship on site available for its patients and guests,” said Sandra Sweeney Wilson, Director of Development for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville. “The rich history of Brownsville -- and the faithful dedication of the Sisters of Mercy -- is now being returned to the community.”

Generous donors to the restoration project have included two brothers -- Danny and Richard Butler -- from one of the founding families of Brownsville. They are naming the chapel in memory of their grandparents, Herminio and Francisca E. de Yturria, whose forefathers came to the Brownsville area in 1858 and started a ranching business that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Also answering the call to help rebuild the place of the Lord has been the 160-person-strong volunteer Auxiliary at Valley Baptist-Brownsville. The Auxiliary donated $10,000 to the Valley Baptist Foundation, which has spearheaded the restoration effort.

In addition, the Kenedy Memorial Foundation, which is is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, made a generous donation for the restoration effort. Founded in 1961 by Sarita Kenedy East, granddaughter of Mifflin Kenedy and Petra Vela Kenedy, the Kenedy Memorial Foundation has donated more than $200 million to charitable causes and organizations in Texas. In South Texas, where the majority of its contributions have been made, the Kenedy Foundation is one of the major charity contributors.

The chapel features several historical items, including antique Stations of the Cross which were made in France in the 1850’s. The original stain glass windows have been restored -- along with additional stained glass windows which were designed and made by Brownsville artist Violet Springman. In addition, a marble altar was re-built to resemble the original altar, which had been transported from France.

Those who would like more information about this historical community restoration project may contact Ms. Wilson in the VBMC-Brownsville Development office, 1040 W. Jefferson, at (956) 698-5440 or by e-mail at sandra.wilson@valleybaptist.net.

Quotes

For quotes and more information on the Butler family, who helped make the chapel restoration a reality, click here.

For a quote from the past president of the VBMC-Brownsville Auxiliary, click here.

Links

For more information on the chapel restoration:
http://www.valleybaptist.net/about/news/06/brownsvilleChapelRestoration.htm

For more information on Valley Baptist' Pastoral Service Dept.
http://www.valleybaptist.net/services/ministry/default.htm

For more information on Valley Baptist Foundation which is spearheading restoration of the chapel:
http://www.valleybaptist.net/foundation/default.htm

For more information on the Valley Baptist Volunteer Auxiliary which helped with funding for restoration of this chapel:
http://www.valleybaptist.net/foundation/volunteer/default.htm

For more information on Bishop Raymundo Pena and the Diocese of Brownsville:
http://www/cdob.org/