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| November 25, 1998 Foundations to Assess Major Change in Catholic Health Care/Diminishing Number of Religious Poses New Challenge Washington, D.C. ----- Declining numbers of religious women working in the nation's 625 Catholic hospitals is likely to loom large in foundation discussions on the future of Catholic health ministry this winter. Next January 22-23 one hundred representatives of Catholic philanthropy will gather in Naples, Florida with Catholic health experts to identify the most pressing challenges facing Catholic health ministry in the next century. The symposium is sponsored by FADICA, a consortium of private foundations sharing an interest in church-sponsored activities. Among those addressing the gathering of foundation trustees are Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, President of Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. who will speak on the subject: Catholic Health Care Leadership in a New Era. Three religious women, Sr. Maryanna Coyle SC, Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins OSF, and Sr. Joan Kuester DC will address the newly emerging field of health care philanthropy. In recent years religious communities in the field of health care have been forming endowed grant making foundations in order to advance the health and social ministry of the church. In announcing the meeting, FADICA President, Dr. Francis J. Butler, remarked: "Today efforts to create healthier communities and serve the more vulnerable populations are being led by Catholic health care institutions. These institutions," he said, "are broadening and reshaping the healing ministry of the church at a time of major internal transition, when health ministry is increasingly led by lay people. This is an exceptionally significant trend with implications for other areas of the church's work," Dr. Butler added. Also addressing the FADICA conference will be Sr. Andrea Balconis OP, MD a rural health physician in Marks, MS. Kathryn H. Ruscitto, of Lorreto Health Systems and coordinator for the Community Campus for Frail Elderly in Syracuse, NY, and Ms. Reasie Flagg, Director for the Parish Nurse Partnership Program of Mission Hills, CA. Panelists will include Msgr. Charles J. Fahey of Fordham University, Charles J. Dougherty of Creighton University, and Sr. Carol Taylor CSFN, of Georgetown University. Dr. Thomas P. Duffy MD of the Yale School of Medicine will talk about the interplay of grace and the spiritual life in the practice of medicine. The conference is by invitation only but transcripts of the proceedings will be available through FADICA. Return to List of News Releases | Back to Top |