Carondelet Legacy Stories
Celebrating 145 Years
Carondelet has a long and rich history that spans decades. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the congregation was originally established in France. The Sisters came to the United States in 1836 to serve the diocese in Carondelet, Missouri.
In 1870, seven Sisters of St. Joseph traveled from San Diego to Tucson to open a school. In 1880, the Sisters opened St. Mary’s Hospital, Arizona’s first hospital. In 1961, they opened St. Joseph’s Hospital to provide services for Tucson’s growing east side. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet began managing Holy Cross in 1981 and assumed ownership in 1987.
Celebrating 25 Years, George Searle
Part of our 145-year legacy at Carondelet Health Network includes our amazing volunteers. Volunteer George Searle is celebrating an incredible milestone with us – Twenty-five years of volunteering at Carondelet St. Mary's Hospital.
Though he's traveled the world, Tucson has been his home for over 40 years. His volunteering journey began in 1999 when he met a recent patient at a bus stop outside St. Mary's and decided to explore volunteering.
As soon as he started, he thought, "I really should have done this before." And now, 25 years later, he's still serving at the front desk and spent a couple of years doing readings at Sunday mass in the hospital chapel. As a front desk volunteer for all these years, his favorite part is seeing familiar faces and reconnecting with people.
George’s dedication over the past 25 years has made him a beloved presence at St. Mary’s, where his warmth, connections, and commitment to service continue to enrich the hospital community.