Since its inception, the Foundation, a ministry of the Sisters of Health System, has exhibited an interest in supporting women religious in their efforts with the poor and underserved members of society.

A 2001 study by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, in Ohio, which focused on the ministries of women religious in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee (Leadership Conference of Women Religious Region VI) and South Carolina identified a number of challenges:

† The aging and steady decline in the number of religious available to carry on the ministries is strongly impacting these works.

† Resources are decreasing as religious seek to sustain critically needed ministries, transition ministries to others appropriately and effectively and determine new ways to use their individual and collective resources to meet the needs of the times.

† The congregations face decisions regarding their ministries that will significantly impact the populations they serve, now and in the future.

The study also found that opportunity to effectively engage these issues exists through collaboration; the concept of collaboration was consistently identified by women religious as essential to ministries today.

As a result of the study, grantmaking for collaborative efforts began at Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland in 2002. In 2003, SC Ministry Foundation, of Cincinnati, Ohio, offered its support. The two Foundations formed a partnership, the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative (CMI), to advance the premise that ministry sustainability may be enhanced through collaboration. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is proud to partner with Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland in this initiative designed to assist the ministries of women religious in South Carolina.
 

Keep up to date on Foundation news and events.
» | Subscribe Now
» | View the Archives