St. Luke’s University Health Network employees paused from their duties on the afternoon of May 28 for a virtual memorial service to honor COVID-19 victims.

The nondenominational service, led by St. Luke’s Network Director of Pastoral Care, the Rev. Mary Catherine Cole, was streamed live from the St. Luke’s Bethlehem Campus chapel via Microsoft Teams to St. Luke’s facilities.

It was the first network-wide service of its kind in St. Luke’s 147-year history.

The United States reached a somber milestone the week of May 24 with 100,000 COVID-19 deaths reported.

During the service, Cole read the names of deceased family and friends of employees.

For each name, a flower was placed in a vase, making a pink and white bouquet on the altar.