The recent "Transition Ritual" at Central Kansas Medical Center focused on change, while recognizing the contributions of all its employees over the years. CKMC will become St. Rose Ambulatory & Surgery Center on Sunday, May 1.

"It was important for us to acknowledge our many wonderful employees from when CKMC opened in 1964 to now," said Mary Klinge, CKMC executive director of mission integration. "We know that change is difficult but it is also necessary because healthcare needs have changed."

Employees, volunteers, physicians, board members and the Dominican Sisters participated in the April 20 ritual. Jean Lambert, Catholic Health Initiatives Vice President for Mission Integration, also attended.

Everyone was asked to sign a rock and write a one-word statement of what they were grateful for over the years at CKMC, Klinge noted.

"Then a tree was planted north of the front entrance in appreciation of the dedicated employees," she added. "A sign was placed by the tree and the signed rocks were scattered around the tree."

Klinge led the group in prayer during the ritual. She said, in part, … "Needs have changed and we are here to honor that. We walk on the shoulders of great women who have gone before us. Our heritage is that of risk-taker. The Sisters came to central Kansas to be teachers but the need was for a hospital, and so they made the change. The Sisters continue to model risk-taking for us.

"On April 14, 2009, the Sisters gave up their identity as the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend to become the Dominican Sisters of Peace, not because it was easy but because it was time. One more time, they did what was hard in order to do what was right. For them, as for us today, there were tears of sadness and deep gratitude for all that was. And along with their tears was openness and hope for all that will be."

After the ritual, a catered picnic was provided.