A nurse in scrubs smiles next to an elderly man seated in a wheelchair in a bright, home-like setting with plants, highlighting the compassionate outpatient therapy offered at St. Francis Health Services locations in Minnesota.
A nurse in scrubs smiles next to an elderly man seated in a wheelchair in a bright, home-like setting with plants, highlighting the compassionate outpatient therapy offered at St. Francis Health Services locations in Minnesota.

Our Mission

Expressing Christ’s love by providing care that values every human life

At St. Francis Health Services, We Serve with Spirit and Compassion

Providing health, residential, community, and allied services holistically, competently, and with care

Our mission is simple.

Since our origins in 1963, where we began providing senior living in Morris, Minnesota, St. Francis Health Services has sought to be a “community that provides healthcare to those who need it…animated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and guided by the moral tradition of the Church.” Throughout our long history, our senior living communities and care centers have remained committed to expressing Christ’s message of love and hope by providing health, residential, community and allied services across Minnesota in a holistic, competent, and caring manner.

A nurse in blue scrubs sits beside and holds hands with an elderly woman in a wheelchair, both smiling inside a well-lit room at St. Francis Health Services.
A nurse in blue scrubs from RenVilla Health Center assists an elderly woman using a walker in a cozy living room setting.

As a nonprofit organization, we are honored to serve with the support of a robust network of donors, volunteers, and staff, under the sponsorship of the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud. From senior housing to skilled nursing care, our services are designed to support every resident’s dignity and humanity. We are proud to provide health, residential, and behavioral services across Minnesota with compassion and care. Our services include:

Our Core Values

Integrity, Commitment, Respect, Excellence, Service, and Stewardship

Our mission at St. Francis is rooted in mutual respect and the compassion of Christ. Our core values that uphold this mission are:

  • Integrity: We adhere to high principles and professional standards.
  • Commitment: We dedicate ourselves to those we serve.
  • Respect: We value and treat each other with compassion and dignity.
  • Excellence: We have the passion to do our best.
  • Service: We contribute to the wellbeing of others.
  • Stewardship: We wisely manage all resources God entrusted to us.

At St. Francis, our values are not just empty words — they’re reflected in everything we do. Everyone across our organization is guided by them, from our staff to our volunteers, to our board of directors. We hire kind, loyal, empathetic care workers who find it easy to connect with residents on a deeper level. And we remain united in the singular mission to create peaceful, pleasant, life-affirming communities and care centers where residents know they are valued.

Our History

A strong legacy of faith-based services and compassionate care

St. Francis Health Services began as the Villa of St. Francis in 1963 after establishing its first nursing home. In the last 50 years, we have experienced steady growth and the expansion of our services.

  • In 1984, St. Francis Health Services was established as the parent corporation with Villa of St. Francis, Prairie Land Management, Pioneer West of Morris (which became Prairie Community Services in 1988) and Pomme de Terre Healthcare Foundation as subsidiaries
  • 1985 through 1989 brought 10 group homes into Pioneer West, which was transferred to Prairie Community Services (PCS). In 1989, the Longfellow School property in Morris was purchased and became the future corporate office.

  • 1990 brought in two more PCS group homes and SFHS purchased its second nursing home, Browns Valley Health Center.
  • 1991 through 1995 spurred new growth with the addition of 14 PCS group homes, the purchase of a third and fourth nursing home, Franciscan Health Center in Duluth, and Leisure Hills Health Center in Hibbing, now Guardian Angels Health & Rehabilitation Center.
  • 1996 through 2000 brought additional growth in service offerings with the addition of three nursing homes, three assisted living operations, and two Alzheimer’s units developed.
  • Over the last 25 years, St. Francis acquired additional nursing homes, completed many major improvements or addition projects, developed and acquired new assisted living communities, and developed nearly 50 group homes.