Caring for Montana Since 1873

Providence was formed by the journeys of courageous Catholic Sisters who sought to meet the needs of the communities they served. Two congregations in particular – the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange – had major roles in establishing and guiding the health system Providence is today.

In 1864, four nuns – all younger than 30 – began a long journey from Montreal to Montana. They traveled by boat to Panama, crossed by land to the Pacific Ocean and then continued by boat to Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River. There, they took a steamer to Walla Walla, Wash. then rode horseback 500 miles along the newly completed Mullan Road –across the Columbia Plateau and through the forests of Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene region, including a flatboat crossing of Coeur d’Alene Lake.

The final leg of their journey crossed the Bitterroot Mountains at what is now Lookout Pass and descended to the Clark Fork River. They arrived at the St. Ignatius Mission, south of Flathead Lake, in October 1864, and became the first Sisters to reach the new Montana Territory.

Although the Sisters knew little about their destination, their Mission was clear: to serve the community’s unmet needs, particularly among those who are poor and vulnerable.

Pioneering Firsts in Montana Healthcare and Education

To support their humanitarian work, the Sisters organized “begging tours” through mining camps and communities of Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

After raising $500 through these tours, Mother Caron, Superior General of the Sisters of Providence, traveled to Missoula in April 1873 with Sister Mary Edward and Sister Mary Victor to expand their original mission at St. Ignatius by opening both Sacred Heart Academy and St. Patrick Hospital.

Growing To Meet the Needs of Missoula, Montana

The new hospital in Missoula had humble beginnings: a small frame building, simple and fragile. But, it offered professional healthcare and the warm concern of the Catholic nuns who ran it. In the following years, the original building underwent additions and remodels. In 1889, a new three-story hospital increased patient capacity from 40 to 90.

By 1923, however, more hospital space was needed to serve Missoula’s fast-growing community. Pledges and donations helped fund the $45,000 required to build the five-story, 150-bed St. Patrick Hospital.

Ushering In Modern Healthcare

In 1906, St. Patrick Hospital founded a school of nursing, which combined the teaching and healthcare ministries. After graduating more than 1,200 nurses, the program closed in 1978 as nursing education shifted to universities.

Following another round of community support, the Sisters of Providence opened the Broadway Building on March 17, 1952. In the years that followed, St. Patrick expanded specialized services, added advanced technology and earned a reputation as a leading regional cardiac and cancer center.

By 1980, limited space and rapid advances in medical technology made another expansion necessary. Fundraising began for a $37.4 million, 285,000-square-foot facility. Completed in 1984, it remains the hospital’s main building today.

Expanding Into the Mission Valley

In 1990, the Sisters of Providence assumed responsibility for Saint Joseph Hospital in Polson, Montana, allowing the facility to continue providing valuable healthcare to the community. Faced with an aging building that required major upgrades to meet standards and maintain its license, the Saint Joseph Hospital Board of Directors determined that new construction was the best option.

Modernizing Care for Healthy Communities

The sponsors recognized the community needed healthcare that could keep pace with changing lifestyles and advancing technology. Their vision was a state-of-the-art facility where the hospital and physicians could work together to provide care for a growing, diverse and aging community.

The plan called for replacing the 60-year-old building with a new facility that included a modern imaging suite, emergency department, surgical suite, patient rooms, medical office space and administrative offices. The project was estimated to cost $10 million. Community donations and foundation support raised $1.6 million, with the remaining funds provided through a Providence bond issue. The new building, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, was designed as a place of healing that reflects Providence’s commitment to Montana and to compassionate care for all.

Joining Forces for Healthy Communities

Further growth occurred in 2016, when Providence Health & Services (founded by the Sisters of Providence) joined with St. Joseph Health (founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange) to establish Providence St. Joseph Health. The health system combines the two systems to strengthen the Mission across seven Western states.

Today, Providence carries forward the legacy of these pioneers by reimagining the future of healthcare delivery and improving the health of individuals and communities across seven western states. The Providence family of organizations remains rooted in its Mission to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable, and committed to fulfilling its vision of Health for a Better World.