St. Clare has arrived! The 24-foot, four-ton custom statue of St. Clare was installed at St. Francis Hospital-Interquest on May 15. She made the long journey from South Dakota to the Pikes Peak Region. This statue encompasses our promise to honor St. Clare’s history and legacy in our community.
St. Clare will greet patients, visitors, and caregivers with open arms at the front entrance on the east side of the hospital. At night, she will shine as LED lights stream through the weather-proof structure from within. St. Clare’s light will remind us that God is with us, even in our darkest moments.
Prior to sainthood, Clare dedicated her life to God at an early age. When she was 18, Francis of Assisi came to preach in a nearby church. Inspired by his words, Clare asked Francis to help her dedicate her life to God.
To commemorate St. Clare’s legacy, both in spirit and design, the Penrose-St. Francis Hospital Foundation commissioned one of the Western region’s finest sculptors, Dale Claude Lamphere, to design and build an inspiring custom sculpture of St. Clare. Lamphere, appointed South Dakota Artist Laureate by Governor Daugaard in 2014, has more than 50 years of experience creating major public works such as Dignity of Earth of Sky—a 50-foot 12-ton monument installed along the Missouri River in Chamberlain, South Dakota in 2016.
It’s both an honor and privilege to have the statue join the hospital’s as we aspire to create an atmosphere that embodies St. Clare’s spirit of hospitality, courage, and love—a place that says: “Welcome. You are loved. Healing happens here.”
