Sponsorship
Sponsorship of a health care ministry is a formal relationship between an authorized Catholic organization and a legally formed system, hospital, clinic, nursing home (or other institution) entered into for the sake of promoting and sustaining Christ's health ministry to people in need.
Sponsorship of Catholic health care involves promoting and assuring Jesus' healing mission. Those who sponsor are responsible for the continued viability of the health care ministry, promoting its ongoing mission, and animating its life. Sponsors act publicly on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and have been entrusted to serve the church by guiding and overseeing a specific institutional ministry in a formal and public way.
CHA's Sponsor Services Department provides numerous programs, services and resources to help sponsors of Catholic health care live out and better understand their roles. For more information about CHA Sponsor Services, contact Sr. Mary M. Haddad, RSM, at (314) 253-3422.
Core Elements for Sponsorship
The following elements are offered to guide discussion and discernment on the roles and responsibilities of sponsors.
- Mission Oriented: Leaders are faithful to Jesus' mission to advance the common good through works of justice, mercy, and compassion.
- Animated: Leaders guide, inspire, encourage, and challenge others to fulfill their God-given vocations.
- Theologically Grounded: Leaders reflect Catholic theology and tradition in shaping and articulating the Catholic character of a ministry.
- Collaborative: Leaders initiate and sustain relationships marked by respect, integrity, and mutuality as children of a loving God.
- Church Related: Leaders of ministerial agencies work in a mutually respectful and supportive manner with one another and with church leaders to foster canonically appropriate relationships and to ensure pastorally effective ministries of service.
- Accountable: Leaders regularly give an account to stakeholders (church officials, boards of directors, communities served) regarding quality of service, stewardship of resources and fidelity to mission.