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SALT LAKE CITY — The recent sale of the former CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa was a lofty real estate venture, requiring even approval of the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
But so far, just over a month into transitional ownership by the Ensign Group, members of the local Catholic clergy are "pleased" with how things are going.
"Our primary concern is the spiritual welfare and the welfare in general of the residents at the St. Joseph Villa," said Monsignor J. Terrence Fitzgerald, vicar-general of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake. He said the new owners "seem very committed to maintaining the spiritual tradition of St. Joseph Villa, even as they take it over."
- 221 skilled nursing beds
- 48 assisted living units
- 60 independent living apartments
- 12 psychiatric beds at the Marian Center
The full-service senior care facility will continue to offer subsidized or charity care for some of its qualified residents, but will no longer officiate under the overt influence of the Catholic Church.
"Ensign is not a religious organization," Matt Church, the newly appointed Villa CEO and longtime Ensign operational leader, said. Daily mass will still be offered, as it always has been, at the facility, as well as other religious services on varying days.
The many Christian statues, crosses and other symbols of faith will also remain at the facility, as Fitzgerald said, "that is the reason people choose to go there for care."
Various priests are sent there upon retirement, he said, "because of the spiritual atmosphere."
"We had to prove that we would bring experience to the Villa that would only make the lives of its residents better," Church said. The Ensign Group, which took ownership of the facility on Feb. 1, he said, will do its best to "continue the legacy" of the service offered at the renowned Villa.
That legacy began when the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word came to Salt Lake City in 1947. They have since left, along with all of the center's paid clergy, as part of the transition.
Fitzgerald said it became increasingly difficult for the sisters to offer the kind of care they wanted to in such an isolated area, away from CHRISTUS' other hospitals and health care organizations, which are mainly in Texas.
The number of sisters sent to the Salt Lake area was also dwindling, just as the operating costs kept rising, he said, adding that he is sad the sisters are gone.
St. Joseph Villa becomes the 85th for-profit, senior care facility owned and operated by the Ensign Group, which owns properties across Utah and in six other states — Idaho, Colorado, California, Texas, Arizona and Washington.
"We are honored that CHRISTUS has entrusted us with this important stewardship and we are committed to continuing the mission of CHRISTUS and the sisters who founded St. Joseph Villa," Church said in a statement released by the Ensign Group in January. "We admire the wonderful work they've done here over the past 63 years and pledge to build on their great legacy to meet and exceed the clinical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each resident, staff member and family."
Ensign officials have said they hope the St. Joseph Villa becomes the "flagship operation" of their presence in the Salt Lake Valley, believing all that is in store is "positive changes."
E-mail:wleonard@ksl.com
