Prayers for hospital’s new outpatient pavilion

During his 25 years at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the Rev. Wendell Oman said he has been called upon countless times to console families coping with the illness or death of a loved one.

On Friday, with dozens of hospital employees looking on, the hospital’s vice president of mission and spiritual care was called upon to say a few words of prayer over a 30-foot-long, 2,200-pound steel beam.

On Wednesday, it will be hoisted into place atop the hospital’s new Outpatient Pavilion, “topping out” the steel skeleton of a building scheduled to be finished by the end of next year. But before that happens, employees at Christ Medical Center and Hope Children’s Hospital will grab markers and sign their names on the beam.

“I’ve prayed over a lot of different situations, but I don’t think I have ever prayed over a piece of iron,” Oman told more than 100 employees gathered for the ceremony.

Later, Oman said the beam has special significance for the hospital.

“It represents a turning point in our ability to serve the community,” the Evergreen Park resident said.

The nine-story building on the northwest corner of 95th and Kilbourn is the first phase of a projected $600 million expansion at the hospital, which also will include a nine-story tower along Kostner Avenue and two new parking garages.