Sr. Cabrini Ferritto, CSA was recently honored October 5, 2009 at a ceremony held by the City of Cleveland's Italian American Heritage Committee. Sr. Cabrini's story starts in the Blue Rock neighborhood on Cleveland's east side where she was born on April 26, 1932, the daughter of immigrants from Italy's Abruzzo region. Sr. Cabrini entered the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) in 1950. She has served as a teacher and principal in schools across Cleveland, as well as an incredible number of leadership positions within her community and the church. She served 16 years on the CSA Leadership Board of the Sisters of Charity Health System, director of Regina Health Center and Cornerstone Housing and on the board of the National Association of Treasurers of Religious Institutes. Sr. Cabrini has given her life to serving God, her church and her community. When CSA set up a new governance structure in 2007, Sr. Cabrini was one of only three named to share ultimate decision making authority. She is known and respected as a tireless worker who gets things done and makes a real difference. Congratulations, Sr. Cabrini!

The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Sisters of Charity Health System and representatives from the Health System’s South Carolina ministries met with Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone on June 22, in the Chancery Officein downtown Charleston.

The 90-minute meeting briefed the Bishop of the Sisters’ Catholic presence and ongoing investment in the state. Congregational Leader Sister Miriam Erb addressed the 71 years the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have lived and worked in South Carolina. Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System, gave the Bishop an overview of the structure and the current developments in the health care ministry in both Ohio and South Carolina.

The Sisters of Charity Health System has four ministries in South Carolina; Healthy Learners, Providence Hospitals, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina and the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. Leaders of these ministries each spent a few minutes educating the Bishop on the work and impact of their respective ministries in the state.

Lisa Potts, policy director for the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, described the plight of low-income fathers in the state and shared how the Center is making a difference in their lives and the lives of their children.

After an extensive question and answer period Bishop Guglielmone offered his appreciation and support of the Sisters and their ministries.

We were a sponsor of Sen. Sherrod Brown's State of Health Care Reform address at The City Club of Cleveland on May 21. Here are some photos from the event.

Pictured left to right are Jeff Jeney, president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland; Tom Cecconi, president and CEO of Mery Medical Center in Canton; and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Sharon Glaspie, of Building Healthy Communities in Cleveland, and Ellen Ospelt, director of the Center for Vascular Health at St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

Teleange Thomas, health program officer for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and Sister Marian Durkin, CSA, board member of the Foundation.

Tom Cecconi, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center in Canton, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown chat before Brown's address on the state of health care reform.