Sponsorship

We sponsor a large Catholic healthcare and housing system dedicated to service to the poor. Sponsorship is an ongoing public relationship that the Wheaton Franciscans have with our incorporated ministries, Wheaton Franciscan Services, Inc. for the purpose of fulfilling the mission of the Church.

Through collaborative relationships with governance and executive leadership, sponsorship ensure that resources, people, services, and finances are used to continually support and deepen the healing ministry of Jesus. Sponsorship is exercised through responsibility and authority to determine and influence Mission, Vision, Values, and management philosophy, as well as governance structures, leadership selection, strategic planning, resource allocation, operating policies, and educational resources.

The Provincial Council appoints a Sponsor Member Board comprised of Sisters and lay persons. The Sponsorship Member Board's role is to exercise the sponsorship and governance authority of the Wheaton Franciscan Provincial Council as delegated to them both as Provincial Council and as Members of corporate ministries. They exercise their role by influencing, stewarding and evaluating how outcomes and services achieved by the corporate ministries are directly responding to the Mission of the Church as expressed by the Wheaton Franciscans, and to the pressing needs of society, especially to the needs of the poor. The Sponsorship Member Board works with the Wheaton Franciscan Services Board of Directors and many others to fulfill their role.

The Sponsorship Member Board has the following responsibilities and such other responsibilities may become or helpful to fulfillment of their role and authority:

1.To work together as a group in identifying strategies, processes and interventions that would bring Franciscan presence and influence to the ministries.

2.To lead an ongoing process that insures the continuity of sponsorship beyond the vowed members.

3.To stay conscious of the most pressing needs in today's society, the Gospel response to those needs, and how these responses could be addressed by the sponsored ministries directly or collaboratively.

4.To become actively involved in defining and evaluating the Province and Church mission, expectations and outcomes of the sponsored ministries.

5.To become actively, though selectively involved, in key ministry dimensions that involve such aspects as: Articulation of the Wheaton Franciscan System mission, vision and values; leadership selection and orientation to ministry history and purpose; governance involvements; resident services; mission education; archdiocesan relationships; major new System relationships; and spiritual development services.

6.To provide oversight to the stewarding of financial, material and human resources used for achieving mission.

  1. To exercise the sponsorship reserved power of corporate ministries retained in current and new legal arrangements and offer opportunities for influence by the Wheaton Franciscans.
  2. Serves as primary mentor for new SMB members.

To accomplish the above, the Sponsorship Member Board acts as an advisor to the Provincial Council and is accountable for the exercise of its delegated powers. Throughout the process of exercising its critical leadership role, the Sponsorship Member Board affirms and celebrates the Wheaton Franciscan System's success in living out its mission.

Through sponsorship, we intentionally bring a Catholic presence to the public dialogue regarding healthcare and shelter in this country. With our ministerial resources, we influence the transformation of healthcare and shelter. Sponsorship provides resources for service to the poor and strengthens our voice as their advocates. Our history of collaboration allows us to move into the future with confidence.

Because of our sponsorship, our corporate ministries are characterized by:

  • faithfulness to the spirit of mission and values
  • integration of ministry and business
  • responsiveness to changing needs
  • justice and compassion
  • development of leadership and staff
  • responsible and appropriate participation
  • clear and effective communication that considers the minority voice promotion of complementary forms of health and wellness services
  • collaboration
  • accountability