CAMDEN — In a spirited and faith-filled ceremony held May 28, Virtua Health marked the 75th anniversary of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital by blessing the ground for a new six-story patient pavilion, a $500 million expansion project that symbolizes both renewal and enduring commitment to compassionate care in South Jersey.
Due to inclement weather, the ceremony took place in the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital – a fitting change that underscored the spiritual heritage of the hospital founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in 1949.
PHOTO GALLERY: Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ground Blessing
Giving a reflection at the event was Sister Margaret Magee, OSF. “It’s truly great to be here today, along with many of our sisters. It’s truly a blessing to see how the vision, values and administrates of our legacy continue to thrive, thanks to all of you. We remember the more than 80 of our Allegany Franciscan sisters who served and administered here.”
Sister Margaret and fellow Franciscan sisters then blessed the gathered with a rendition of a song of Saint Francis.
Bishop Joseph A. Williams, recently installed as the ninth Bishop of Camden, presided over the ground blessing with representatives of multiple faith traditions present. In his remarks, Bishop Williams praised Virtua for its deep respect for the hospital’s Catholic roots, noting, “This was a Catholic hospital when Virtua approached us. That was so important for us – to ensure that the Catholic vision would be respected.”
The newly announced Marvin Samson Pavilion will serve as the hospital’s new main entrance and house 78 private patient rooms, 10 operating suites, and state-of-the-art facilities for cardiovascular care, organ transplantation and advanced neurosciences – a collaboration with Penn Medicine.
The pavilion is named for Samson, a longtime Virtua Health board member and philanthropist who donated $5 million from the Marvin Samson Foundation charitable organization to Virtua’s educational and workforce development programs. The monetary gift is the largest in Virtua’s history.
Samson also addressed the gathering, affirming his commitment to the Camden community and the future of accessible, advanced health care.
Bishop Williams wove personal reflection and faith into his blessing, sharing a passage of Virtua CEO Dennis Pullin’s new book, “Suited for Leadership,” where Pullin noted his mother’s quiet prayer – “Lord, help him to be better tomorrow.” Bishop Williams remarked how that may have served as inspiration for Virtua’s mission to go from “good to better.” Bishop Williams also invoked the healing presence of God, calling the Divine Physician “the Lord and giver of life.”
While held indoors, Virtua gave all attendees small containers of dirt from the future Samson Pavilion grounds, which Bishop Williams blessed to close his remarks.
“May this pavilion continue the hospital’s legacy of compassionate care,” he prayed. “May it remain a place of grace and humility, where each person is treated as a child of God.”
The event featured reflections on the hospital’s history, an unveiling of architectural renderings, and the hospital’s Director of Pastoral Care, Father Joseph Monahan, announced a community art activity with ribbons representing prayers and hopes for the hospital’s future. A closing benediction was offered by Rabbi David Englander of Congregation Beth El in Voorhees.
With the Marvin Samson Pavilion scheduled to open by the end of 2027, the expansion represents a cornerstone of Virtua Health’s regional strategy, Advancing Well into the Future, ensuring that the mission of healing and service begun 75 years ago will continue for generations to come, officials said.
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