IHM: Ministry of the Month

Ministry of the Month - July 2009

IHMs In Action

Sister Juliana (Rachel) Casey, IHM, was teaching Scripture in graduate school when she had a ministry-altering epiphany.

"As I taught about Gospel values, I could truly see them in action in a health-care ministry," she recalls. "I wanted to be a part of that."

Sister Julie is the executive vice president of Mission Integration for Catholic Health East (CHE), a position she has held for 11 years. CHE is one of the largest Catholic health care providers in the country and is sponsored by 10 different religious communities. It is a major presence in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida and employs approximately 54,000 people.

"I was working in health care for the Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis when CHE was formed," Sister Julie says. "I was intrigued by the concept of so many different Catholic sponsors joining forces to provide health care, so I went to work with the new organization."

Sister Julie works closely with all the sponsoring religious communities. She ensures that the CHE mission is carried out according to Catholic principles and provides leadership to people at all levels of the organization to make sure they understand what the mission and values are.

"Even with these difficult economic times, as we are challenged by fewer resources to carry out our mission and stay faithful to our values, I am able to minister with so many people who view CHE as more than just a job," notes Sister Julie. "It's a deeply spiritual experience.

"CHE makes it comfortable for people to take time for prayer and reflection. We start all meetings with a prayer and end them by asking which core values were lived out during the meeting."

Another important aspect of Sister Julie's ministry is providing leadership to CHE's Global Health Ministry.

"Global Health Ministry sends teams of health care volunteers to Latin America and the Caribbean to help those with little or no access to health care," she explains. "We currently have mission sites in Peru, Guatemala, Haiti and Jamaica."

Sister Julie leads by example. She's been to Haiti four times, most recently, this past winter.

"CHE has pledged $100,000 to build a 12-bed maternity ward at Hospital St. Francis de Sales in Port-au-Prince, the largest city in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere," she says. "The IHM community has a special connection to Haiti through our co-founder, Therese Maxis, and I'm always happy to go.

"Haiti gets inside your heart."

Catholic Health East is a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve. To effect this mission:

We treat all persons whom we serve and with whom we work with respect and compassion, calling forth their best human potential.

We provide a full range of services that support healthy communities, including quality medical care and holistic approaches to healing the body, spirit and mind.

We collaborate with others who share a common mission and vision.

We continually seek ways to assure access to services to persons most in need

We identify and develop leaders in the Catholic health ministry.

We advocate public policies and initiatives - particularly in the area of healthcare - that ensure quality of life for all.

If you would like to partner with the IHM Sisters in support of their ministries, secure online giving is available.

Previous Ministry Features

Ministry of the Month - June 2009 - Sister Kathryn (Catherine Ann) Pierce, IHM
Ministry of the Month - May 2009 - Rose Therese (Richard Mary) Huelsman, IHM
Ministry of the Month - April 2009 -Joyce Campbell, IHM
Ministry of the Month - March 2009 - Judith (Norma Jean) Kaiser, IHM
Ministry of the Month - February 2009 - Angela (Marie Benjamin) Hibbard, IHM

More Ministry of the Month features are available in PDF format which requires Adobe Reader on your computer. If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download the latest version here.

January 2009 - Anne Mamienski, IHM
December 2008 - Ann Oestreich, IHM
November 2008 - Faye (Marie Denise) McFarlane, IHM
October 2008 - Marie-Esther Haflett, IHM
September 2008 - Elizabeth (Joseph Sarto) Fleckenstein, IHM
August 2008 - Rose Ange (Robert Joseph) Leddy, IHM
July 2008 - Jane (Mary Jane) Herb, IHM
June 2008- Barbara (Ann Damien) Cardinal, IHM
May 2008 - Andrea Lee, IHM
April 2008 - Marie (Robert Marie) Sweeney, IHM
March 2008 - Sue Rakoczy, IHM
February 2008 - Laura (Laura Mary) Hardage, IHM
January 2008 - Beth (Maria Alma) Wood, IHM

December 2007 - Vickie Adams, IHM Associate
November 2007 - Sister Maria Theresa (Cecilia Mary) Magrie
October 2007 - Sister Joan (Marie Trinite) Glisky
September 2007 - Sister Anne (Michael Ann) Wisda
August 2007 - Sister Kate (Kathleen Mary) O'Brien
July 2007 - Sister Margaret (Mary Hofbauer) Alandt
June 2007 - Sister Pat Nagle
May 2007 - Sister Julie Vieira
April 2007 - Sister Carrine Etheridge
March 2007 - Sister Nancy (Grace Anne) Ayotte
February 2007 - IHM Motherhouse Elder Council
January 2007 - Sister Nancy Sylvester

December 2006 - Sister Candyce (Lauren) Rekart
November 2006 - Sister Theresa (John Christopher) Fix
October 2006 - Sister Peggy (Michael Francis) Devaney
September 2006 - Sister Pat (Helen Mary) Aseltyne
August 2006 - Sister Peg (Cornelia) O'Shea
July 2006 - Sister Patricia (Marie Sara) Rourke
June 2006 - Sister Nancy Lee (Philippine) Smith
May 2006 - Sister Mary (Marie Thoma) Downey
April 2006 - Epiphany Education Center
March 2006 - Sister Evelyn (Marie Augustine) Booms