In 1912, four devout women of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, inspired by founder St. Vincent Pallotti’s motto, “The Love of Christ Impels Us,” left the comforts of their home and family in Bremerhaven, Germany, for a life dedicated to serving those in need in rural West Virginia.
Upon arrival in America, the young Sisters traveled to Stella Niagara, New York, where they studied the English language under the tutelage of the Sisters of St. Francis. The Sisters eventually arrived at their desired destination in Richwood, West Virginia, on August 12, 1912.
In 1920, intent on establishing another hospital, the Sisters migrated to Buckhannon, where they purchased a private residence. This converted home became an eight-bed hospital facility named St. Joseph’s Hospital.
For more than 100 years, St. Joseph’s, under the leadership of the Sisters, has served as the premier healthcare provider in Buckhannon, offering the community compassionate, quality care. St. Joseph’s has faithfully adhered to its mission to provide health care in ways which respect the God-given dignity of each person and the sacredness of human life.
In 2015, St. Joseph’s Hospital was purchased by the WVU Medicine and the Pallottine Foundation of Buckhannon, West Virginia, was established. The establishment of the Foundation allows the Pallottine Missionary Sisters to continue their legacy of caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of people living in Barbour, Lewis, Randolph, Upshur, and Webster counties.