FMOL Health | St. Dominic Unveils Statue Celebrating Shared Franciscan and Dominican Legacy During 80th Anniversary Year
June 12, 2026
JACKSON, Miss. — FMOL Health | St. Dominic marked a historic milestone with the dedication of a new bronze statue, “The Meeting of St. Francis and St. Dominic: Companions on the Journey,” commemorating the shared mission and enduring partnership between the Franciscan and Dominican traditions that shape the ministry’s identity. The dedication took place June 11, 2026, on the St. Dominic Hospital campus as part of the organization’s 80th anniversary celebration.
A gift of the FMOL Health Board of Directors, the statue depicts the legendary first meeting of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Dominic in the year 1215, a moment symbolizing unity, humility and shared purpose.
“This generous gift, in development for more than a year, commemorates the FMOL Health Board of Directors’ inaugural visit to the Jackson ministry,” said E.J. Kuiper, president and CEO, FMOL Health. “It reiterates FMOL Health’s commitment to the communities it serves across Mississippi and Louisiana.”
Created by artists of Sainte Chapelle Studios of Mandeville, Louisiana, the sculpture portrays the two saints embracing as companions in faith and service.
“This statue is a visible reminder that our ministries are stronger when we walk together,” said Jeremy Tinnerello, regional president, FMOL Health | St. Dominic and FMOL Health | St. Francis, who welcomed guests to the dedication. “Since 2019, FMOL Health and St. Dominic have been companions on the journey to care for the people of Mississippi and Louisiana, and this gift reflects that enduring friendship.”
The statue’s placement during St. Dominic Hospital’s 80th anniversary year added special meaning to the dedication, inviting reflection on the ministry’s Dominican roots and the legacy that continues to shape its mission today. Founded in 1946 when the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, assumed ownership of a small infirmary in downtown Jackson, FMOL Health | St. Dominic has grown into a multifaceted ministry serving communities across the region. In this year’s Jubilee of St. Francis, as many mark the 800th anniversary of his passing, the dedication also offered a meaningful reminder of the shared Franciscan and Dominican call to humility, unity and service.
Following the unveiling, Jill Hisaw, director of pastoral care, explained the significance of the blessing rite, noting that the sprinkling of holy water symbolizes sanctification and recalls the call of baptism that underpins the health ministry’s mission. The statue was then blessed by Father Panneer Arockiam, priest chaplain at St. Dominic Hospital.
The ceremony concluded with a prayer commissioning all present to continue as “companions on the journey,” renewing the health system’s pledge to bring the healing of Christ to the communities it serves while embodying the core values of service, humility, justice, joyfulness of spirit, and reverence and love for all of life.
The statue now stands on the St. Dominic Hospital campus as a lasting symbol of collaboration, faith, and compassionate care for generations to come.
About FMOL Health | St. Dominic
FMOL Health | St. Dominic is a 453-bed tertiary care hospital located in Jackson, Mississippi, serving all of central Mississippi and employing approximately 3,000 team members including nurses, physicians and skilled caregivers. The medical staff of nearly 500 leading physicians and specialists makes St. Dominic Health one of the most comprehensive healthcare providers in Mississippi. St. Dominic Health is more than just a hospital. It is a family of services focused on fulfilling a mission of Christian healing to those in need. These include St. Dominic, the Sister Trinita Community Health Clinic, St. Dominic Medical Associates (physician network), St. Dominic Fitness Center, St. Dominic Health Services Foundation, St. Catherine’s Village and Care-A-Van. Through more than seven decades, St. Dominic Health has remained true to its vision. As a Christian healing community, St. Dominic Health is called to provide quality, compassionate care and an exceptional experience every time. St. Dominic Health is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and is driven by its mission to serve all God’s people, especially those most in need. Learn more at stdom.com.