MADISON — Bishop Robert C. Morlino was on hand March 24 to bless the new facilities of the Our Lady of Hope Clinic during an open house and ceremony held at a nearby dance studio to accommodate the crowd.
The bishop blessed the new family-care clinic, located at 6425 Odana Rd., Suite D, in Madison, from the dance studio due to poor weather conditions making a transfer from building to building not feasible.
The bishop has said previously that he was “thrilled” that there is such a clinic as Our Lady of Hope Clinic in Madison.
The nonprofit clinic, which is advertised as “pro-life,” will offer family medicine fully in accordance with Catholic moral teaching. It will support free outpatient health care to uninsured persons and will be funded by “benefactors” who receive unlimited, concierge-style primary care in return for an annual contribution.
“There couldn’t be a better name for this clinic than Our Lady of Hope,” Bishop Morlino said in comments before the blessing, “because our greatest hope is in Jesus Christ, and no one lived out that hope more than our Blessed Mother. She is the perfect embodiment of hope in her son and hope in the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.”
This clinic, he said, “is going to be an endeavor of hope; it’s going to be an endeavor under the protection of Our Lady of Hope; and it’s going to be an endeavor that focuses us all on the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.”
In addition to the bishop, speakers at the press conference, blessing, and open house included Steve Karlen, development consultant for the clinic; local benefactor Alissa Hirscher; and Drs. Michael Kloess and Anne Volk Johnson, who are staffing the clinic.
Karlen suggested five ways that all Catholics can help the clinic:
- Pray for the mission of the clinic.
- Become a benefactor.
- Make a donation to support those who cannot afford care.
- Spread the word to others who might be seeking this opportunity.
- Offer your time and talent as a volunteer.
The clinic, which officially opened its doors April 2, is still recruiting benefactors. The expected cost of becoming a benefactor for a year is $1,200 for an individual, $2,300 per couple. Children are $500 each to a maximum of $1,500. The clinic also recommends high-deductible insurance to cover health expenses not covered by the clinic, such as hospitalization, outpatient surgery, or prescription drugs.
For more information on what the clinic can offer or how to become a benefactor, visit www.ourladyofhopeclinic.org or contact Steve Karlen at 608-445-2063.