In the loneliness of winter, we can’t help but be reminded of the history of Duchesne Clinic. Sisters Ann Totta and Janet Koelzer toured the building of the former Saint Anthony Catholic Elementary School on a frigid night in January 1989. They were looking for a site to open a clinic to care for those most vulnerable. Inside the chapel, they found the body of a homeless person who had sought refuge from the cold behind the altar. To both Sisters, this discovery was a sign that Duchesne clinic should be founded on this spot.

Today, we still pursue the sisters’ mission of revealing and fostering God’s healing love. We seek to honor the legacy of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, who ministered to the underserved in the Kansas City area in the 1920-40s. We also remember Kaven Kehanjan, the man who sought shelter on that cold January night. Currently, hundreds of individuals who need access to care find it at Duchesne Clinic because of the work that was began almost 25 years ago.