CCS honored by dedication of St. Elizabeth Conference Room at El Rio Health

By Mary Lim 

On October 29, 2022, Catholic Community Services (CCS) CEO Peg Harmon welcomed guests to the new St. Elizabeth Conference Room at El Rio Health on Grant Rd. Bishop Edward Weisenburger blessed the new space that will aid in the mission of El Rio and St. Elizabeth’s Health Center, which is to serve the underserved and uninsured in Southern Arizona, and to “provide integrated comprehensive quality of care with the ongoing vision to optimize overall health and quality of life.” (El Rio website) 

In her address to the room full of people who came to be a part of the momentous transition in St. Elizabeth Health Center’s history, Peg said, “Today is a bittersweet moment for many of us who have known St. Elizabeth’s Health Center from when it was first known as St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic. This mission for healthcare for people in need began with its founding in 1961, and continues until this moment in time when its legacy will be remembered in this beautiful facility.” 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic was originally founded as part of the Diocese of Tucson in 1961, by the Catholic Sisters of Our Lady of Victory, also known as the Victory Knoll Sisters. The Sisters dedicate their life to mission work, as they say in their mission statement, “We, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, rooted in a Marian and missionary spirituality, proclaim the Word of God, foster justice, stand in solidarity with those living in poverty and oppression, and promote the development of leaders.” 

By founding the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic, the Sisters brought all of the tenants of their mission to Southern Arizona, and they strove daily to support the poor and oppressed.  

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic became part of CCS and started being called “St. Elizabeth’s Health Center.” Under the administrative leadership of CCS, the Clinic continued to provide care to those who were in the greatest need, following the mission of the Victory Knoll Sisters and inspired by the patron of the Clinic, St. Elizabeth of Hungary. 

St. Elizabeth of Hungary’s life and spirituality are what inspired the symbol of the rose that is embossed on the doors of the new conference room at El Rio.  

Inside the St. Elizabeth Conference Room, visitors are met with a statement wall decorated with photos and overlayed by the symbol of the rose. Peg explained that “the photos represent the founders and others who created and passed on their passion to serve individuals, children, and families in need of medical, dental, and behavioral health care. The vision of care of the founding group of Catholic Sisters of Our Lady Of Victory was to act in support of the poor and oppressed people. Their journey to Tucson to fulfill this founding purpose is the true story of St. Elizabeth’s.” 

St. Elizabeth’s Health Center became its own independent non-profit agency in 2014, apart from CCS, and soon after it merged with El Rio Health. 

Following in the footsteps of many Sisters from several religious communities, Nancy Johnson now oversees St. Elizabeth’s as its Executive Director. Peg Harmon thanked Nancy Johnson, saying that she led the Clinic in it’s partnership with El Rio, assuring that “the mission to provide high quality, compassionate care for people who have too often been left to the margins” continues. 

As part of the dedication of the new St. Elizabeth Conference Room, Bishop Edward Weisenburger prayed a special blessing for the new space and for all those who enter it. 

View photos from the dedication ceremony