Daneo Hall:
Thirty Years (1972-2002) of Care and Healing in Holy Cross
Province, Immaculate Conception Monastery, Chicago, Illinois.
by Fr. Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
Passionists have always had surprising energy to preach and live out the Gospel in multiple ministries. However, like any family, the Passionist family continually has had to face questions of health care. Where does a Passionist recover from a heart attack? Where does a Passionist reside who has dementia, or requires rehabilitation? Where does a Passionist who has as a terminal illness receive care?
Daneo Hall was dedicated on May 12, 1972. This thirtieth anniversary historical essay celebrates the attempt of Holy Cross Province in the United States to answer the above questions. Likewise, the details of the story, based upon a May 2002 interview which I conducted with Daneo Hall staff members Barbara Ayers, R.N. and Robert Schmitt, L.P.N., might help us to remember several perspectives. First, health care is more in the forefront today because Passionist priests and brothers live longer. Second, as a place and community of care, Daneo Hall serves as a reminder of just how Passionist health care has developed in one hundred and fifty years. Prior to 1906, when one United States Passionist province became two, a significant number of Passionists died from tuberculosis. In the first part of the twentieth century heart attacks were common. In recent decades cancer has been another affliction. In effect the history of Passionist health care for its vowed members, in this case, Holy Cross Province is certainly worthy of study. Those interested in the history of the health care apostolate might wish to consult Christopher J. Kauffman, Tamers of Death and The Ministry of Healing (Crossroad, 1976, 1978).
In the late 1970s or early 1980s I traveled to Chicago, Illinois to attend the annual meeting of the American Historical Association. It was the week after Christmas. Staying at the Immaculate Conception Passionist Monastery on Harlem Avenue, I arose each morning to take the Blue Line CTA train to the downtown hotel convention center. As one might expect, a blast of cold weather hit the Chicago lake front. As a result I came down with the flu. The convention and commute were exhausting. Upon my return to the monastery, I remember walking down the corridor and running into Brother Dan Smith, C.P. Noticing my poor condition, he brought me to Daneo Hall where the staff gave me some medication to reduce my fever. In the process I listened to Brother Dan speak about his years of Passionist ministry in Alabama. A decade later I had the opportunity to meet Father Barnabas Ahern who was suffering from Alzheimer's. And from 1995 until 2002 I have had the opportunity to see and experience the day to day operation and oftentimes pray with the Daneo Hall community in Chicago. I was pleasantly surprised to realize 2002 is the thirtieth anniversary.
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