TRANSFERRING A HEALTHCARE MINISTRY-In a formal ceremony held Oct. 17, Archbishop John J. Myers (left) hands the seal of Saint Michael's Medical Center to George R. O'Connell, chairman of Hope Ministries, symbolizing the transfer of religious sponsorship of the Newark hospital. Hope Ministries is a religious community affiliated with Catholic Health East, which now assumes stewardship of Saint Michael's healthcare mission.

NEWARK-Archbishop John J. Myers, in a formal ceremony Oct. 17, officially transferred the Catholic mission, ministry and healthcare operations of Saint Michael's Medical Center to Hope Ministries, a religious community within Catholic Health East (CHE).

The ceremony formally marked the new sponsorship for Saint Michael's-a plan that was unveiled earlier this year (see The Catholic Advocate, Jan. 23).

"What has endured here at Saint Michael's has been a compassionate, healing spirit, a mission of mercy begun in God's name by a handful of dedicated women," Archbishop Myers said, referring to the founding of Saint Michael's in 1867 by the Franciscan Sister of the Poor. "Today we transfer religious sponsorship of Saint Michael's to the capable stewardship of Hope Ministries and Catholic Health East."

Robert V. Stanek, president and chief executive officer of Newtown Square, PA-based CHE, in acknowledging the historic transition, pledged to maintain the medical center's Catholic values.

"Our goal is to touch the lives of all people in the greater Newark area, especially the poor; to help heal those who suffer and to help prevent disease," Stanek said. "How do we see the future here at Saint Michael's? CHE looks to provide a transforming, healing presence in the communities we serve," he continued.

Eight years ago the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life established Hope Ministries as a "public juridic person" of Pontifical right.

Robert H. Evans is the chief executive officer of Saint Michael's, providing the leadership at the 357-bed teaching hospital. Alexander J. Hatala is the chief executive officer of CHE-NJ, overseeing the operations of Saint Francis Medical Center, Trenton; Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden; Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington Country, Willingboro; and Saint Michael's.

CHE (Web site: www.che.org) manages healthcare ministries in 11 East Coast states from Maine to Florida.