Honoring our legacy and committed to your health, Our Lady of the Lake Ascension is now Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, reflecting our longstanding commitment to the Ascension Parish community and our Franciscan heritage.
This name change honors not only our deep connection and commitment to the Ascension Parish community but also the inspiring legacy of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, for whom our hospital was originally named.
From Riverview to St. Elizabeth
Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth’s story began in 1986 with the founding of Riverview Medical Center, a small hospital under various for-profit ownerships. Despite changes in leadership, Riverview’s growth potential remained untapped.
That changed when Our Lady of the Lake and the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters saw an opportunity to expand their ministry into Ascension Parish, acquiring Riverview in 2000.
Sister Linda Constantin chose the name St. Elizabeth Hospital, a name rooted in the Catholic tradition and in honor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a woman renowned for her compassion, service and devotion to those in need.
The Story of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was a woman who embodied selflessness and service. Born into royalty, she was the daughter of the King of Hungary, but rather than living a life of luxury, she chose a path of penance and asceticism, caring deeply for the poor and suffering.
Elizabeth was beloved for her tireless efforts to provide food and comfort to those in need, often seen delivering bread to the poorest in her land.
After the death of her husband, Louis of Thuringia, during the Crusades, Elizabeth faced hardship and mistreatment by her in-laws, but she remained steadfast in her commitment to helping others.
She joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1228 and used her wealth to build a hospital in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, where she personally cared for the sick.
Elizabeth’s profound faith and compassion made her the patroness of Catholic charities and a symbol of love for the underserved. She died at the young age of 24 but left an enduring legacy of humility, charity and devotion.
By embracing the name St. Elizabeth, we honor her example of service and compassion for those most in need, which remains at the core of our mission today.
A Period of Integration
In 2018, a decision was made to integrate services across Our Lady of the Lake Health’s 11-parish region, renaming St. Elizabeth Hospital to Our Lady of the Lake Ascension.
This move allowed us to leverage the collective strength of Our Lady of the Lake and Ascension Parish, but the spirit of St. Elizabeth never faded from the hearts of our team members, patients and the community. Despite the official name change in 2018, the people of Ascension Parish continued to refer to the hospital as St. Elizabeth.
The Future of Healthcare in Ascension Parish
As we return to the name St. Elizabeth, we are also looking ahead to the future of healthcare in Ascension Parish. With the population growing steadily and surpassing 132,000 residents, the demand for advanced healthcare services continues to rise.
At Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, we are meeting this challenge by expanding services, growing our infrastructure and continuing to bring world-class care close to home. The future has never been brighter for healthcare in Ascension Parish.
