October 29, 2026 – HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital will honor organ, eye and tissue donors, recipients and their families during a special service at its new chapel.
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital will host its 2026 National Donor Sabbath Service Friday, November 13, recognizing the life-changing impact of organ, eye and tissue donation.
The service begins at 10 a.m. in the new St. Clare of Assisi Chapel in Decatur. Community members, hospital colleagues and donation advocates will gather to honor donors, the families who make donation possible, transplant recipients and those still waiting for a transplant.
Candles will be lit in remembrance of donors and in recognition of recipients, those awaiting transplants and the healthcare workers who support patients and families throughout the donation and transplant process.
Featured participants will include representatives from Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, ImpactLife and Eversight. Christy Nachtrieb, a liver transplant recipient, will also share her personal perspective on the impact of organ donation.
“Hospitals have an important role in making organ donation possible,” said Lindsay Paradee, director of nursing at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital. She said hospital teams help identify when donation may be an option and connect families with organizations that guide them through the process.
“These conversations often happen during an incredibly difficult time, and we are honored to help families understand the opportunity to give others more time, hope and life,” Paradee said.
National Donor Sabbath is observed each November to encourage conversations about organ, eye and tissue donation within faith communities and beyond.
The service will provide an opportunity to remember those who have given the gift of donation, support people awaiting transplants and recognize recipients whose lives have been changed.
More information about donation and donor registration is available at Gift of Hope. Information about HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is available at stmarysdecatur.com.
