St. Vincent Hospital marks 125th

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

WORCESTER – As St. Vincent Hospital celebrated its 125th anniversary last week, those affiliated with it spoke of faith and family.
The actual anniversary was Saturday – the Sisters of Providence founded the hospital on September 8, 1893 – said Daisy L. Burroughs, St. Vincent’s public relations manager. But celebrations spanned the week. She said hospital staff were treated to lunch one day and patients were given anniversary ribbons on their meal trays,
On Sept. 4 Masses of Thanksgiving were celebrated – by Msgr. Peter R. Beaulieu, director of Mission Integration and Pastoral Care, at noon in the hospital chapel, and by Bishop McManus at 6:15 p.m. at St. John Church.
On Sept. 6 a celebration was held in the hospital’s atrium. Hospital representatives spoke of their experiences there, and a video was shown to guests, who were treated to refreshments and champagne.
Helping Ava Collins, CEO and COO, give the toast was Jeffrey Welch, who finished as CEO four weeks ago and returned from Florida with his wife for the occasion.      
“I’m so proud and honored to be a part of the celebration,” he told The Catholic Free Press. “The physicians, the staff and the community are simply outstanding. This is family. … It’s great coming back; it’s like coming home.”
Mayor Joseph M. Petty presented the hospital with a proclamation and a key to the city.
Before giving the invocation, Bishop McManus spoke of St. Vincent’s continuing Jesus’ saving, healing mission. He prayed that God would enlighten the minds of those who care for the sick, revealing the truth that life is sacred, enriching their lives by their service.
Msgr. Beaulieu echoed some of this in talking with The Catholic Free Press later.
“The Church has continued to consider this an important part of our diocesan life,” the continuation of the saving mission of Christ, he said. Through all the changes over the years, “the underlying reality has been the Church’s influence … the Catholic position that everybody deserves to be treated with respect.”
“I’ve seen many … improvements,” especially in quality, safety and ensuring a positive experience for all patients, Kathryn Zingg Hunter, board chairwoman and a board member for five years, said in her talk Sept. 6.
It’s always about the patient, Dr. Paul Arcand, medical staff president, said in his talk.
He asked what it is like to lead a group of physicians at a 125-year-old hospital, and said he’s humbled by the tradition before him, and tries to keep it going.
“It always takes a team,” he said. They impact the community – because of the work they do, people live longer.
Dr. Arcand has also been impacted personally by working there.
“It was like a family,” he said. “I met my wife here.” And nothing is more important than family, he said.
A similar comment came from Dr. Joel Popkin, director of special services.
“It’s been an extraordinary evolution of medicine,” he told The Catholic Free Press. “Maybe the most consistent thing that has not changed is that St. Vincent’s has been a family organization. … In 1974 when I came here – no question – I was made to feel very welcome. The diversity has been celebrated.”
His wife, Zenie Popkin, said she worked in the lab in the old hospital, and volunteered there and at the present site.
Family also played a part in Loretta Steele’s association with the hospital. She was one of those featured on the video shown at the celebration.
“I started in 1972 as a registered nurse,” she told The Catholic Free Press. “I worked for 38 years and then I retired and I came back as a volunteer. Like I said in that video, I think volunteering has done more for me than I’ve done for volunteering.”
She said her husband died seven years ago, and, when she started volunteering a couple years later, it helped her with the grieving process.
She serves in the family waiting room in same-day surgery, monitoring patients’ progress and communicating back and forth between their families and the nursing staff, she said.
“Working here is the best thing that ever happened to me,” Rafael Peguero, executive chef for Sodexo food service, told The Catholic Free Press. “I love working for St. Vincent’s.” Asked what he likes, he said, “The staff; the people.”    
“Walking in every day, to such an ambiance – it’s soothing,” added Paula Patton, operations manager for the food service, which has a contract with the hospital. She said if she’s stressed, she can sit by the waterfall in the atrium, talk with people, and “chill out.”


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