Lourdes Health Celebrates 110 Years of Serving the Community

On September 24, 2026, Lourdes Health is celebrating a milestone that reflects more than a century of compassionate care, community partnership and faithful service: 110 years of serving the people of the Mid-Columbia region.

Founded in 1916 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, Lourdes Health began with a simple but powerful mission: to respond to the health care needs of the community with compassion, respect and care. What started in Pasco’s former Montana Hotel has grown into a health care ministry that continues to serve patients, families and communities across the region.

When the first six Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in Pasco, health care in the community was limited. With the support of local physicians, businesses, volunteers and community leaders, the sisters transformed the Montana Hotel into a small hospital in just 16 days. Records from Lourdes’ early history note that the hospital admitted 607 patients in its first year, serving Pasco, Kennewick, Connell, Mesa, Eltopia, Kahlotus and Burbank.

“For 110 years, Lourdes Health has been part of the fabric of this community,” said Brian Sims, Lourdes Health CEO. “This anniversary is an opportunity to honor the Sisters of St. Joseph, the physicians, caregivers, volunteers, community leaders and generations of patients and families who have shaped Lourdes’ legacy. While health care has changed dramatically since 1916, our commitment to serving our community with compassion and care remains at the heart of who we are.”

Throughout its history, Lourdes has grown alongside the community it serves. From its early days caring for patients in a converted hotel, to the construction of a larger hospital in the 1920s, to the expansion of services across the region, Lourdes’ story has always been deeply connected to the people of the Mid-Columbia.

Today, Lourdes Health continues to build on that foundation through a broad range of services designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and families. The organization’s legacy includes generations of caregivers dedicated to healing, service, community partnership and its mission of making communities healthier.

As Lourdes Health celebrates 110 years, leaders say the milestone is not only a reflection on the past, but also a recommitment to the future.

“We are proud of the legacy Lourdes has built and grateful for the trust this community has placed in us for more than a century,” said Sims. “As we look ahead, we remain committed to continuing this mission and serving our neighbors with excellence, compassion and care.”

Lourdes Health will mark the anniversary on Sept. 24 with reflections on its history and recognition of the people whose dedication has carried its mission forward for 110 years.