The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany have committed $1 million to support the creation of a dedicated chapel at the future Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s, set to open in 2030.
The gift will help fund a central spiritual sanctuary within the new, freestanding pediatric facility offering patients, families and caregivers a peaceful place for reflection and healing, according to a statement.
The chapel will be located at the back of the hospital’s main lobby and designed as a circular, light-filled space, situated within the healing garden. Though indoors, it will be framed to feel open and serene, providing a visible and accessible space for spiritual comfort, the statement said.
The Franciscan Sisters first came to Tampa in 1934, founding the original St. Joseph’s Hospital with just 40 beds, during the Great Depression. Since then, their ministry has grown into a network of five St. Joseph’s Hospitals across West Central Florida.
“The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany laid the foundation for the compassionate care that defines St. Joseph’s today,” said Kate Sawa, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Their extraordinary gift ensures that this legacy lives on in a space created for reflection, faith and healing.”
Beyond their presence in Florida, the Sisters have spent more than 160 years serving in health care, education and pastoral work around the world, from the United States to Jamaica, Brazil and Mozambique.