SAGINAW- Patients at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw can now access weekly Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption from their rooms. A collaboration between the Diocese of Saginaw and Ascension St. Mary’s has provided for this live broadcast to be available throughout the hospital.
“Hospitals are important places to reach out to those in great need," said the Most Rev. Walter A. Hurley, Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Saginaw. “Our clergy, religious sisters and lay faithful minister to our hospitalized brothers and sisters by visiting them and bringing them the Eucharist. In a similar way, we want to share the consoling words of the Gospel, the inspiring faith of believers and the beauty of the Mass with those who are unable to attend in person.”
According to Dr. Stephanie Duggan, Regional President of Ascension St. Mary's, Ascension Standish Hospital and Ascension St. Joseph in Tawas City, providing this experience to “participate in Sunday Mass is a gift to patients of all faiths. We care not only for the physical and mental health of our patients, but their spiritual needs as well.”
Mass at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption streams live each Sunday at 10 a.m. and is viewable online through the Diocesan website saginaw.org and on the Diocese of Saginaw’s Facebook and YouTube pages. The weekly live stream from the Cathedral is made possible through the generosity of thousands of local faithful who contribute to the annual Catholic Services Appeal.
The historic Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption underwent an extensive renovation and restoration in 2016-17. Video capabilities were included as part of the revitalization in order to share Mass and other events with the broader community.
The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw was established by Pope Pius XI on Feb. 26, 1938. Today, it includes 6,955 square miles across Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Sanilac, Saginaw and Tuscola counties. In 1938, The Most Rev. William Murphy, the first Bishop of Saginaw, dedicated the entire diocese under the patroness of Mary of the Assumption.