Sponsorship transformation at Ascension Health

Two Catholic health systems, the Daughters of Charity National Health System and the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System, came together to create St. Louis-based Ascension Health in 1999. A third organization, Carondelet Health System, then merged with Ascension Health in December 2002. Ascension Health is sponsored by four provinces of the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Ascension Health operates according to a concept it calls "sponsorship of the whole," which has been defined as follows: "The sponsors of Ascension Health exercise canonical responsibility to ensure that the health ministry sustains and strengthens Catholic identity while expressing the charisms of the present and future sponsors. The sponsors act as stewards of Ascension Health's mission and resources, and commit, in partnership with others, to educate, influence, nurture, and develop the combined health ministry to further the healing ministry of Jesus." After several years of serving together on the Sponsors Council-and following much prayer, theological reflection, and in-depth discussion-the sponsors decided to accept the "Sponsorship of the Whole" document. The document challenges sponsors to open their hearts and arms to embrace all of Ascension Health's local health ministries. When Ascension Health was formed in November 1999, it was with the intention of adding laypeople to the Sponsors Council. In late 2005, the system created a work group to explore key areas pertinent to the appointment of lay members to the council. The Sponsors Council then engaged in a rigorous identification and selection process, after which, on July 1, 2006, it welcomed two lay members. Ascension Health will continue to develop its own preferred culture and identity. As the system's metamorphosis unfolds, personal conversion, a new way of relating to others, and changes in both attitudes and values will be necessary.