Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.)最新文献

Enthusiastic statements like these stunned me when, years ago, I began leading formation groups. The goal was to help leaders pass on the Catholic health care tradition, not change their lives. Yet many participants said that’s what was happening. Today I have come to expect that although most formation participants will say the program improved their leadership, some also will say it was life-changing.¹

Recently I traveled with Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, CHA’s president and chief executive officer, to St. Francis de Sales Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where we met with the three priests who have responsibility for management and direction of the hospital. In the course of our conversation, they voiced their struggles in managing the hospital’s mission of being the hospital for the poorest of Port-au-Prince’s population while attempting to maintain any semblance of a financial margin. It was fascinating to listen to their deliberations — the challenges and possibilities of seeking sustainability — in terms of attracting those who can pay while always serving those who are unable to do so.

Since 1727, when the Ursuline Sisters came to the United States, Catholic health care in the U.S. has sought to be a courageous and faithful reader of the signs of the times. It has tried to be attentive to the ongoing newness of God’s desire in responding to the health needs of people.

Religious sponsors have led every step of the way in the Catholic Health Association’s community benefit work. Since the Ursuline Sisters’ 1727 arrival in New Orleans, women religious have modeled community health improvement by looking around, seeing what needed to be done and finding ways and means to improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people.

I had not heard the concept of ministerial sponsorship before joining the Catholic Health Initiatives. At first, it struck me as arcane jargon that was relevant only in the niche of Catholic health care.

We have just moved into a season where the news of Jesus’ triumph over death will be front and center in our liturgical celebrations. As we passed through the celebration of the paschal mystery, we experienced suffering, the tomb of human death and the promise of eternal life fulfilled.

The word philanthropy comes from the Greek philanthropos, which means a love of humanity. The broader understanding of philanthropy recognizes anything that helps people to become more human is an exercise of love. This is consistent with Catholic theology’s understanding of the Incarnation and how our participation with grace is "sacramental."

When we think about philanthropy and charity, we naturally think about the generosity of individuals who care about the well-being of others. In Catholic health care, we have the opportunity every day to see that generosity firsthand. We see generosity in the philanthropic and charitable gifts that made a Women and Infants Pavilion take shape at Ascension’s St. Vincent’s HealthCare in Jacksonville, Florida. In this pavilion, all women, regardless of their socioeconomic status or ability to pay, will receive the same state-of-the-art, compassionate care. That goes for St. Vincent’s heart centers and cancer centers and community outreach programs, all funded in part by the generosity of people who think about the importance of giving as part of their nature.

The period from the 11th to 13th centuries witnessed the rise of a money economy in Europe. Cities grew and multiplied; more and more land was cultivated, increasing the wealth of landowners; and a new-sprung merchant class made it possible for those who were not part of the aristocracy to accumulate wealth.¹

Almost a year ago at SCL Health, we launched an assessment of philanthropy across the organization. When it comes to fundraising, here’s the vital question: “Are we raising as much money as we possible can?"