Exploring Formation With Other Organizations.

In the 2000s, the public juridic person structure was established in far more organizations. In recent years, even larger Catholic health systems have emerged, and the rate of partnership with other-than-Catholic organizations has accelerated further. Formal programs for ministry formation have proliferated across Catholic health care over the last three decades. While there is broad consensus about the need for and value of formation, there is significant variation in how these programs are constructed and delivered. Today, the programs assume a variety of forms, but all share as their primary purpose to provide leaders with a deeper understanding of and sense of connection to Christ’s healing ministry and the church. Across the country there is broad consensus within Catholic health care regarding the need for formation, but there is less clarity around whether and how to proceed with formation with other-thanCatholic organizations. As Catholic health systems have developed an array of relationships with secular organizations, they have begun exploring options for formation within those entities as well.