September 18, 2012
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland sponsored a recent study, The Harvest of Ministry: Exploring the Ministry of Women Religious in Cleveland, to describe the unique approach of women religious and to inform others who strive to help people in poverty or with other vulnerabilities. The study was conducted by Rob Fischer, co-director of the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, and Sr. Mary Ann Murphy, OSU, of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.
The study draws on six focus group conversations involving 33 Catholic Sisters. The study surfaces key themes that frame a better understanding of the work of today’s women religious, with themes that can especially benefit faith‐based agencies as they adapt to increasing needs, fewer resources and a need to develop new leaders. The work builds on an earlier survey of Catholic Sisters in active ministry in the Cleveland region.
The research was sponsored by the foundation’s Collaboration for Ministry Initiative (CMI). With research, convenings and grants, CMI engages in collaborative efforts to strengthen the ministries of Catholic women religious in Northeast Ohio. The foundation also released an earlier version of the report.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.