RESEARCH & EVALUATION
In 2009, the Sisters of Charity Foundation sponsored research on the ministries of women religious by Rob Fischer, Ph.D.
(below), Co-Director of the
Center on Urban Poverty & Community Development at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University.
The research began as an inventory of women religious who might be affected by the
"clustering" process that began in 2007. The Most Reverend Richard G. Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland, directed 69 clusters of parishes to consider sharing resources and propose a reduction in the number of parishes within those clusters.
In consideration of the many Sisters who work in parishes, schools, and outreach ministries connected to parishes, the Foundation partnered with the
Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland to gather the names and ministries of Sisters in parish-connected service. A survey was then sent to those Sisters to gain their perspectives on their ministries' strengths and challenges and the potential impact of the parish reconfiguration.
This is the third research project on women religious that has shaped this focus area for the Foundation since 2001. In 2006, the
Collaboration for Ministry Initiative sponsored a Mapping Project of the Conference of Religious Leaders (CORL) that obtained demographic information on all women religious in the Diocese of Cleveland.
In 2001, the Saint Ann Foundation conducted research on the challenges of congregations fo women religious in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina, which led to the formation of the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative.
Common challenges facing the surveyed congregations included:
-
Aging.
A steady decline in the number of women religious threatens the congregations’ ability to carry on the work of their ministries.
-
Decreasing resources.
Many congregations are providing needed services while transitioning the ministries to others, and looking for new ways to use individual and collective resources.
-
Critical decisions to be made.
Ramifications of the choices congregations make regarding their ministries will significantly impact the populations they serve, now and in the future.
Catholic Women Religious in Northeast Ohio by Age
|
Under 45
|
15
|
|
45-54
|
55
|
|
55-64
|
262
|
|
65-74
|
245
|
|
75+
|
157
|
|
Blank
|
17
|
|
Source: CORL October 2006; 751 respondents
|
Catholic Women Religious in Northeast Ohio by County
|
Ashland
|
0
|
|
Cuyahoga
|
443
|
|
Fulton
|
1
|
|
Geauga
|
83
|
|
Hamilton
|
2
|
|
Lake
|
14
|
|
Lorain
|
22
|
|
Mahoning
|
19
|
|
Medina
|
2
|
|
Ottawa
|
1
|
|
Portage
|
3
|
|
Stark
|
13
|
|
Summit
|
88
|
|
Trumbull
|
10
|
|
Wayne
|
2
|
|
Out of State
|
30
|
|
Unknown
|
18
|
|
Source
: CORL October 2006;
751 respondents;
Bold
=counties in Cleveland Diocese
|
Catholic Women Religious in Northeast Ohio By Ministry
|
Education
|
232
|
|
Congregational Service
|
179
|
|
Church-related & Retreat/Spirituality
|
144
|
|
Healthcare & Wellness
|
101
|
|
Social Services & Poor
|
53
|
|
Ministry Other
|
41
|
|
TBA
|
1
|
|
Source: CORL October 2006; 751 respondents
|