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Health care in America is in need of a transformation. Average costs of care are consistently double those of other developed countries, while outcomes in the U.S. — like life expectancy, infant mortality and chronic disease management — fall short. Access remains a consistent issue with almost 8% of Americans, or 26 million people, without health insurance. Millions more are underinsured, causing them to delay or avoid care altogether.

At Catholic Health, we stand at a pivotal moment, charged with leading with clinical excellence and a sacred purpose rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

The Vatican’s Year of Jubilee, themed Pilgrims of Hope, began this past Christmas Eve and continues until the celebration of Epiphany on Jan. 6, 2026. This tradition of celebrating a jubilee year traces its roots to the Jewish custom of observing a jubilee every 50 years, during which enslaved people and prisoners would be freed, debts forgiven and God’s mercy made manifest.

According to the evangelist and physician Luke, Jesus articulated his mission when he was filled with the Holy Spirit after fasting in the desert for 40 days and enduring the temptation to forsake love for fame, fortune and power.

Catholic health care has been blessed by the ministry of sponsorship. Sponsors have guided, nudged, accompanied, encouraged and, yes, sometimes redirected the ministry through many moments of "thick fog." We are tempted to believe the uncertainty of our time is unique, but the veterans among us remind us that low visibility and headwinds have always been part of our story.

It’s so easy to cede our time and attention to everyday pressures, commitments and responsibilities. And while there is a lot of focus on the importance of building resilience and avoiding burnout in Catholic health care settings, Health Progress wanted to share some of the ways people attend to and strengthen their spiritual lives.

We live in a world where the pursuit of happiness is blurred by individualistic efforts to thrive, one where societal structures fail to inform or embody a communal vision of flourishing. It is difficult to envision a world where human potential is nurtured, affirmed and fulfilled — a place where infinite love shapes a shared reality.

In 2004, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary decided that they could not offer on-premises skilled care to their aging members. "We made the decision with our heads, and we're living it now with our hearts," said Senior President Sr. Mary Catherine Redmond, PBVM.

I recently had the opportunity to present and participate in the CHA-hosted Sponsorship Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a gathering that takes place every other year and is attended by CEOs, chief mission officers and sponsors from across the ministry. In one particularly engaging session, Sr. Tere Maya, CCVI, CHA's senior director for theology and sponsorship, used clips from the movie Cabrini to generate discussion about the future of Catholic health care. She also explored the vital role of sponsors in ensuring our Catholic identity as a ministry of the Church and the sustainability, growth and transformation of the ministry in reading the signs of the times.

At Mercy, we are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care and understand that financial barriers should not prevent anyone from receiving the care they need. Accessing health care can be overwhelming, particularly for individuals and families facing economic difficulties. As part of our mission to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to life, we offer financial assistance programs to try to ensure equitable access to medical services for all.