"Like shining from shook foil". A "virtuous organization" is prepared to treat both the body and the soul.

The Catholic health care ministry is about mission, and the role of organizational ethical reflection is to encourage people in the ministry to think about the institutional performance and practice of medicine within a ministry of the Catholic Church. By engaging a creative process that identifies the needs of people served by Catholic health care, institutions are able to mediate the healing and redeeming power of Jesus, thereby creating virtuous organizations. To depict the mission of Catholic health care as an extension of the healing ministry of Jesus is to evoke explicitly Catholic theological language, and such language is appropriate because Catholic health care is a ministry of the Catholic Church. The church itself is the embodiment of the healing and redeeming ministry of Jesus, and the institutional ministries it has created over time need to bear witness to this fundamental reason for their existence.

Spirituality in the Catholic workplace. Does it differ from the now-fashionable versions found in other organizations?

"Spirituality in the workplace" has become something of a fad in corporate America as companies seek to find a balance between their employees' personal beliefs and the bottom line. Does this newfound spirituality-meets-margin differ from the spirituality traditionally observed in faith-based organizations? Often secular organizations, in an attempt to be as non-offensive and inclusive as possible, adopt an all-or-nothing approach to workplace spirituality. This can translate into a celebration of every religious belief system or a "New Age" appeal to universal human values. Spirituality in a Catholic health care workplace differs, however. It is quite specific in that it focuses on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. It is precisely this healing ministry that nurtures the spirituality found in Catholic health care organizations and differentiates it from its secular counterparts. Although nurturing spirituality in the Catholic health care workplace can be seen as the job of each person involved, from sponsor to caregiver, chaplains serve an integral role. Their unique perspective and training can be crucial to successfully fostering an organizational culture based on the values that Jesus portrayed in the Gospels.

Succession planning for mission. The Wheaton Franciscan system has a new method for training mission leaders.

As part of a succession-planning approach to provide new and expanding leadership for its Mission Services Department, Wheaton Franciscan Services, Inc. (WSFI), Wheaton, IL, implemented a "learning contract" for new mission leaders in its member organizations. This article focuses on training for the mission leader at one such organization, All Saints Healthcare, Racine, WI. The contract includes expectations for the new leader, which, if met, provide the preparation thought to be essential for the new leader to perform effectively in the role. The contract has two parts: first, internal training, including formal mentoring relationships among the new mission leader, WFSI's mission leaders, and the CEOs of member organizations; and, second, external education, including participation in a master's degree program and attendance at various ministry educational programs that pertain to the role.

A legacy endures. A Maine system emphasizes its sponsor's mission in all aspects of its work.

The Sisters of Charity Health System, Lewiston, ME, a member of Covenant Health Systems, Lexington, MA, remains deeply committed to the mission of service begun by its foundress, St. Marguerite d'Youville. Although St. Marguerite experienced a hard life, her resilience and her commitment to the poor and disadvantaged serve as an inspiration to those who continue her legacy of compassionate care. The founding work of St. Marguerite and the sisters has helped to foster a culture in which the mission of service thrives among the system's 2,000 employees. This culture can be attributed to two things: the system's organizational values of compassion, stewardship, respect, and excellence; and the recognition of those employees whose work embodies these values. From the boardroom to the patient room, mission is integrated into each decision and action. Every two years, each of Covenant Health System's member facilities engages in a mission assessment process that examines various aspects of mission, including Catholic identity, holistic care, care for the poor, mission values integration, ethics and employee relations. In addition, the Sisters of Charity Health System's board has its own standing Mission and Community Committee, which looks strategically at how creatively and faithfully the system is continuing to live its mission.

St. Mary's has a "Sailabration". An Indiana hospital sets aside a day for spiritual renewal.

Ascension Health has asked all of its health care ministries to promote spirituality in the workplace. St. Mary's Health System, Evansville, IN, responded to this request with several initiatives, including the development, facilitation, and implementation of a new model for what St. Mary's calls its "Employee Renewal Day." Revamped from a voluntary unpaid day to a paid day on which participation is strongly encouraged, Employee Renewal Day 2004 focused on fellowship, relaxation, and the history and heritage of St. Mary's and its sponsor. Based on an employee's suggestion, the mission team adopted a nautical theme, "Sailabration Cruise: A Day of Renewal," and took employees on "a voyage" complete with mission-themed ports, passenger photos, a ship's log, purser's desk, and an activities director. More than 1,200 St. Mary's employees-or 23 percent of the total workforce-participated. All of St. Mary's 135 leaders were in attendance. The new Employee Renewal Day model will be tried over a three-year period, so as to measure the progress of furthering the integration of spirituality within the organizational culture.

Mission "in the trenches". A Texas system practices what it calls "co-ministry".

As responsibility for mission shifts from religious to lay leadership, sponsor-secular partnerships and new models of governance help to ensure that Catholic health care facilities continue the healing ministry of Jesus. By appointing lay mission directors and developing programs that support the work of health care professionals and associates "in the trenches," the sponsors of Catholic health care facilities are embedding particular values and behaviors in their organizations. The miracle of Catholic health care invites women and men of different faith traditions to participate in and contribute to the values, culture, and mission of the Catholic health ministry. Mission "in the trenches" is longer reserved solely for sponsors and religious congregations. By establishing and recognizing the essential services provided by interdisciplinary spiritual care teams and empowering patient caregivers with the knowledge and tools necessary to fulfill their specific responsibilities, the healing presence of God is made known to those who seek our care and observe our actions.

What's in a word? A prism makes a good metaphor for our understanding of "mission".

An organization's mission and mission statement are distinctly different, though intimately related. A mission statement expresses what we do. Our mission expresses who we are. Although a mission statement's concept is usually easy to understand, the intangible idea of mission is often difficult to grasp. Many images have been used to illustrate an organization's mission; however, one image stands out above the rest: the prism. No matter where one places the prism, the light passing through has a different reflection. Each facet represents a different aspect of our ministry. When mission plays a critical role in our work, we know-no matter what particular work we do-that the work has been made sacred and changed to reflect the mission experience.