Religious Communities

“[Women religious] became the nation’s first cadre of independent, professional women. Their contributions to America are not small. They built the nation’s largest private school and nonprofit hospital systems. They were the nation’s first large network of female professionals in an age when the pervading sentiment was that a woman’s place was in the home.”

–John J. Fialka, SISTERS: Catholic Nuns and the Making of America (2002, St. Martin’s Press)

For more than 150 years, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and other congregations of Catholic women religious have served America’s most vulnerable residents. Their ministries of health care, education and social service are significant, faith-based resources that strengthen a community’s capacity to help those most in need.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland understands that thousands of families and individuals rely on the services provided by ministries of Catholic women religious every day. The Foundation works in partnership with others to strengthen Sister-led/Sister-sponsored ministries. A key objective is to build awareness of the enduring impact of women religious and their ministries for individuals, communities and America.

Collaboration for Ministry Initiative

In 2001, the Foundation supported research which identified collaboration and capacity-building activities as an essential tool for strengthening and sustaining ministries. In 2002, the Saint Ann Foundation began its support of collaborative efforts among congregations of Catholic women religious. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland continues this work, which now includes a partnership with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina to assist women religious throughout that state.

Saint Ann Legacy

Saint Ann Legacy grants are available to ministries of women religious in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee (Region VI of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious). These grants commemorate the Saint Ann Foundation, which was dedicated to supporting women, children and youth and the ministries of women religious.

Other Assistance

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland acknowledges the unique challenges facing congregations of women religious as they continue their individual and collective work to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ. The Foundation seeks to be a resource for ministries as they find solutions to professional and ministry needs.

In 2005, for example, after Hurricane Katrina careened into the Gulf Coast, many Catholic religious orders with headquarters, educational institutions and other ministries were among the uprooted and devastated residents. Working alone and in collaboration with others, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland assisted in identifying resources to aid in the congregations’ recovery.