Formed on July 1, 1996
by the Presentation Sisters of Fargo
and nine other Congregations of Women Religious

Catholic Health Initiatives Promotes Value-Based Partnerships and Advocacy

To create a national Catholic ministry which will live out its mission by transforming traditional health care delivery into integrated networks and creating new ministries that promote healthy  communities.

Vision Statement

Mission Statement

To nurture the healing ministry of the Church by bringing it new life, energy and viability in the 21st  century. Fidelity to the gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we move toward the creation of healthier communities. CHI, sponsored  by a lay-religious partnership, calls other Catholic sponsors and systems to  unite to ensure the future of Catholic health care .

To fulfill this mission, CHI, as a values-based organization and in  partnership with others, will:

  • Assure the integrity of the ministry in both current and developing  organizations and activities;
  • Research and develop new ministries which integrate health, education, pastoral and social services;
  • Promote leadership development throughout the entire organization;
  • Advocate for systemic change with specific concern for persons who are poor, alienated and under served; and
  • Steward resources by general oversight of the entire organization.

On July 1,1996, three distinct health care systems owned and operated by religious women came together to form a single, strong, nationwide organization  geared to build healthier communities. Unification of Catholic Health Corporation, Franciscan Health System, and Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems created a dynamic, flexible, organization with resources, both human and  financial, to ensure appropriate and ongoing services for all our communities.  Comprised of 10 congregations, Catholic Health Initiatives(CHI) is a Catholic  ministry transforming traditional health care delivery.

CHI and its affiliates assure the integrity of the ministry in both current  and developing organizations and activities through integration of health, education, pastoral, and social services. Advocacy for systemic change to  address the needs of persons who are poor, alienated and under served is critical to our mission. Leaders of the three systems worked together to shape CHI's vision and philosophy.

Operationally, CHI consists of five geographic regions: Upper Midwest, Central Midwest, Eastern, Western, and Rocky Mountain. Each region provides oversight of local facilities and market-based organizations through leadership  in strategic planning, budgeting, stewardship, material management, insurance and risk management. This increases the value of services at the regional  level.

Catholic Health Initiatives is an integrated health care system encompassing a wide range of facilities and services. Members benefit from each other's  experiences, leveraging and increasing the network's expertise. Following is a list of congregations who sponsor CHI, are members of CHI and whose health care  facilities now belong to the Catholic Health Initiatives:

  • Benedictine Sisters of Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, SD-- Sister Sandra Meek, OSB
  • Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn.--Sister Rita Kraemer, OSF
  • Nuns of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Great Bend, Kan. -- Sister Peggy Martin, OP
  • Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Ohio--Sister Mary Ellen Murphy, SC
  • Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Regional Community of Omaha, Neb.--Sister Patricia McDermott, RSM
  • Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Pa.--Sister Madonna Marie Cunningham, OSF
  • Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Diocese of Fargo, ND--Sister Mary Margaret Mooney, PBVM

HONORARY SPONSORING CONGREGATIONS

  • Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Immaculate Conception Province,  Philadelphia, Pa.
  • Sisters of St. Francis of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Catholic Health Care Initiatives now operates Friendship, Inc. and Riverview Place for the Fargo Presentation Sisters.

Catholic Health Initiatives

1101 32nd Avenue South ~ Fargo, North Dakota 58103
(701)237-4857 ~ FAX: (701)237-9822