Sylvania Franciscan Sister Diana Lynn Eckel, back right, congregational minister for the order, presents a check for $10,000 to Cheryl King, administrator of Rosary Care Center, to buy new medical equipment for the long-term care facility for women and men religious on the Sylvania Franciscan campus. Residents on hand for the presentation are, from left, Father Frank Nieset, Sylvania Franciscan Sister Laura Poplaw and Sister of Notre Dame Marc Burgard. SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious), in Washington, D.C., provided the grant. (Photo courtesy of Sylvania Franciscan Sisters)

Opened in 1975, Rosary Care Center was designed as a nursing facility for the elderly Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania and is managed by Franciscan Services Corporation, administrator of the health care ministry of the Sylvania Franciscans. The four-story, 76-bed facility has expanded to include men and women religious from other vowed communities in the greater Toledo area.

“Providing for our sisters and other sisters and priests from the Diocese of Toledo who reside at Rosary Care Center is a very important part of our ministry,” said Sylvania Franciscan Sister Diana Lynn Eckel, congregational minister. “These women and men have devoted themselves to living the Gospel for the good of all mankind. It is only fitting that we provide for them in their elder years so they can live in comfort while they spend time in prayer for others.”

This is the 10th grant, for a total of $132,141, the Sylvania Franciscans have received from SOAR! Funds have been used to purchase electric hospital beds, lift chairs, a whirlpool, and medical and therapeutic equipment for Rosary Care Center.

In 2010 SOAR! provided 44 grants, for a total of $750,000, to religious communities in 17 states. SOAR! is a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit created in 1986 to help Catholic religious and clergy throughout the United States and Puerto Rico maintain financial stability in the care of their elderly and infirm members.