Posted October 8, 2013

St. Francis Country House, a member facility of Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is celebrating 100 years of providing health care services for the Delaware County community. To commemorate the occasion, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving Friday, Oct. 4. A celebration dinner followed at Springfield Country Club.

Founded by Msgr. Francis Xavier Wastl in 1913, St. Francis Country House began as a 15-bed home in the countryside where patients could go to recuperate through rest, good food and fresh air. During World War I, a second property was added in response to the United States Navy’s need to send wounded marines and sailors there to convalesce. One hundred years later, St. Francis Country House continues to offer nursing care and rehabilitation services in the present 273-bed structure, with the help of over 400 employees.