Felician Sisters Transfer Sponsorship
of St. Joseph Healthcare

The Felician Sisters who have sponsored St. Joseph Hospital/Healthcare since 1947 officially transferred sponsorship of the Organization to Covenant Health Systems of Lexington, Mass. July 29. 

Planning for the future of St. Joseph Hospital, the Felician Sisters have taken measures to ensure its continued excellence and Catholic mission, ministry and legacy. Sister Mary Christopher, C.S.S.F., Provincial Minister of the Felician Congregation of North America, comments, “The decision to move toward full membership within Covenant Health Systems and allow Covenant to provide official sponsorship of St. Joseph Healthcare was made to ensure the long term viability of St. Joseph Healthcare as a Catholic identified ministry.”

Members of the combined local governing boards for St. Joseph Hospital and St. Joseph Healthcare have endorsed the sponsorship transfer to Covenant Health Systems. The transfer will result in the continuation of high-quality health services within the framework created by the Felician Congregation.

Membership within Covenant Health Systems provides a wide array of resources to St. Joseph Healthcare including managerial and operational assistance, strategic planning and mission and educational enhancement opportunities.  The sponsorship change will not affect the level of health care services provided to the community.

David R. Lincoln, Covenant President/CEO (photo), said, “We welcome St. Joseph Healthcare as a member of Covenant Health Systems. We know firsthand of their dedication to the Catholic health ministry and the communities they serve and of their strong commitment to their employees. The transfer will allow St. Joseph to utilize more services of a regional delivery network, and we look forward to having the talents of the St. Joseph staff enhance our System. Covenant facilities in Maine, including the Sisters of Charity Health System in Lewiston, will also mutually benefit by our relationship.”