Our Patron Saint

Saint Francis of Assisi was born Giovanni di Pietro Bernardone in 1182. Growing up in a well-to-do family, he experienced a conversion, and gave up all of his belongings to love God and to serve those in need. He founded the Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of Saint Clare and the Third Order of Saint Francis.

Francis was uniquely devoted to living a simple life, and to honoring God by honoring all of creation. He believed in the incarnation of God through Jesus, but also through the ability of each of us to be the face of God for the other. Saint Francis is understood to be the first to depict a living Nativity to celebrate Christmas.

There are many powerful stories about the teaching of Saint Francis and about his commitment to promoting peace and justice for the most vulnerable and poor. Francis also traveled to Egypt in an attempt to converse with the Sultan and to bring an end to the Crusades.

At Saint Francis Hospital, we remember our namesake on October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi and in the ways that we try to serve the community with openness to each person and great care for those in need.

For more than ninety years, Saint Francis Hospital has served the Wilmington community and Northern New Castle County by providing compassionate health care of the highest quality.

Founded by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia in 1924, Saint Francis heeds a particular call to serve those in need. Our ministry is to serve all who require expert medical care regardless of religion, race, color, creed or economic status.