Center for Ministry Formation

Earlier this year, the Center for Ministry Formation offered its annual Stories of Grace program. Shaped by the Catholic tradition that informs our ministry, the program invited BSMH leaders to reflect upon our ministry’s value of “stewardship” in light of the call to respect our interconnectedness with creation and all living things. 

As a way of extending Stories of Grace: Stewardship, we are happy to present a series of stories submitted by our markets entitled, “Profiles in Stewardship,” demonstrating the diverse and creative ways our associates reflect this value in their day-to-day work and ministry. This page will be updated weekly, with new stories appearing from now until the end of the year.

We hope that by sharing these stories with the wider ministry, all will be encouraged to embody our value of stewardship for the health and well-being of our communities, our world, and generations to come.

Clean & Green Baltimore: Transforming Community by Stewarding Spaces

Baltimore’s population has been declining since its peak of about one million residents in 1950. Today, it’s home to just under 586,000. Vacant homes created by population loss and other economic factors cause quality of life issues for communities. The demolition of these homes, however, left Baltimore with a different problem—vacant lots, over 16,000 city-wide.

Paducah Cancer Center

When asked to provide a story about the Mercy Health - Paducah Cancer Center, I was thrilled to highlight this exciting project and all that it means to the local community, and our ministry.  This facility truly does embody our Mission and Values at Bon Secours Mercy Health to extend good care to our communities and do so in a sustainable and financially responsible way.

The Garden of Hope Continues to Bloom

A journey to the south side of Mercy Health Lorain Hospital leads to a beautiful sight. Exquisite wildflowers, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, marigolds, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, purple cabbage, radishes, broccoli, beans, and other green leafy vegetables bloom in a garden planted and maintained by BSMH associates.

Supporting Community in a Time of Tragedy

On August 22, what was supposed to be a joyous first day of school for students in our community quickly turned into tragedy and heartache. A school bus carrying fifty-two elementary students became involved in a serious accident on the way to school, resulting in one student fatality and at least twenty-five other students injured. The staff at Springfield Regional Medical Center quickly went on alert, anticipating an increase in volume of patients in the emergency room.

Blessed to Be Able to Help

Receiving a Core Culture Award brought Cheryl Briggs to tears. But what the Supply Chain tech did for a patient at Richmond Community Hospital could move others to tears as well.

“There was a Behavioral Health patient being discharged. He did not have a coat and it was very cold that day,” she recounted. “The only thing I could think of was ‘Give him your coat.’ And that is what I did.”

Turning Broken Bones Into Blessings

Editor’s Note: The following was written by Andy Lyons, director of corporate communications and content strategy for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. He and his wife traveled to Grenada in early September with Orthopedic Physician Assistant Ali Swanson and members of the non-profit she founded called Partners 4 Global Health. This story explains why.

My wife Renee’s ankle snapped in three places the second she slipped on gravel in front of our vacation rental in Grenada.

Our Gift of Time and Talent

Stewardship is our gift of time and talent to carry out the Mission of Bon Secours Mercy Health. Volunteers donate their precious time and talents to provide various services that support departments within Mercy Health Youngstown.

Stewardship Protects Mother Earth

Having been the previous Director of BSHR Spiritual Care Services and now Director of Mission at Mary Immaculate, special dedications and blessing requests have long been a part of my normal duties. This time when I was asked to dedicate and bless a bench, I had no idea what an impact it would have on my life as Mission Leader.

Learning to Steward the Gift of Presence

Spiritual Health volunteer training includes listening exercises meant to help volunteers develop the reflective and active listening skills they will need when visiting patients. For one impactful exercise the instructions are simple: share with a partner about a time when you or a loved one have been a patient.

Loaves and Fishes

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is now a food donor for Loaves & Fishes. The food donation program began in mid-June, and by mid-September, donations amounted to 120 trays of food diverted from becoming waste and instead being redistributed by Loaves & Fishes.

Even More Was Accomplished

Back in early 2022, Mercy Health Lima received a $20,000 grant through Ohio Department of Health to improve maternal and infant health resources and opportunities within the community. As maternal and infant health was a primary identified need, several community partners joined our ministry to discern how best to steward the resources through the grant.

Stewarding Support “Through A Jewish Lens”

The weekend before Thanksgiving is especially challenging for survivors of suicide loss. Instead of family togetherness, many are left experiencing the painful words of the book of First Samuel: “Thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty.”

Stewarding Care Across Borders

The team at Mercy Health St. Vincent are used to providing care for those in most need. Only on this day, when a victim of a high-speed motor vehicle collision was transported to our ED, it was different.