Dignity Health-St. Mary Medical Center Celebrates 100th Anniversary, Archbishop José H. Gomez  blesses the Nurses

Last month in August, the Archbishop of Los Angeles Catholic Church, José H. Gomez,  blessed the nurses, doctors, and staff of Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center in honor of its 100th anniversary.

In 1923 the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word from Galveston, Texas, purchased the Long Beach hospital for $165,000 from a local syndicate. Prior owners of the 70-bed facility struggled to get the doors open at optimal levels for the prior two decades of operation, until the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word from Galveston, Texas, put in came to the negotiating table with a stellar reputation of running hospitals throughout the southern United States and Mexico at the time.

The Catholic Order’s strength as an operations manager of healthcare facilities in Southern California shone in 1933 when an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 shook Long Beach, and destroyed the hospital, convent, and chapel. Knowing of its vital importance to the community, the Sisters rebuilt the hospital with help from William Reid, the chairman of Hancock Oil.

The new hospital opened in 1937 and expanded to include many of the current services. In 1949, the addition of the North Wing, more than doubled hospital capacity from 100 beds to a 253-bed capacity. Then in 1974, the Bauer Tower opened with all private patient rooms, a larger emergency department, a new intensive care unit and heart care unit, and maternal child health services.

While St. Mary Medical Center’s dedication anniversary date is August 26, St. Mary Medical Center chose to hold mass on August 23 in honor of Sister Dennis with the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph from India. This day serves as a memorial day for Sister Dennis, who passed away after serving our hospital as a pediatric nurse for 39 years.

“St. Mary Medical Center has a history of serving the poor, disenfranchised, and the most vulnerable individuals in our community, and was proud to receive this mission from Archbishop Cantwell in 1923. Now, 100 years later, we are dedicating ourselves once again to this mission in front of the presence of His Excellency, Archbishop Gomez, and all our guests,”

shared Carolyn Caldwell, President and Chief Executive Officer at St. Mary Medical Center. “I would like to thank our St. Mary team, Board Members, Trustees and friends for making this milestone possible.”

“On behalf of the leadership of our congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI), Houston, TX, I bring greetings and appreciation to everyone in attendance today,” said Sister CelesteTrahan. “Through many trials, hardships, joys and celebrations, the Sisters have continued to lay the foundation for what continues today. We appreciate you all for carrying the torch of our Mission forward into the next century!”