CHICAGO - The Illinois Catholic Health Association (ICHA) board of directors voted recently to become a co-sponsor for the Aquinas Institute of Theology's Vocare Center. The Vocare Center was established in 2008 to serve the diverse needs of leaders in Catholic institutions and congregations as they strive to embody mission and sustain ministry into the future.

Patrick Cacchione, executive director of ICHA, said, "There are 46 Catholic hospitals and more than 100 Catholic long-term care and housing facilities in Illinois. The Catholic Church in Illinois employs more than 100,000 people. We look forward to working with Aquinas Institute to provide these employees with continuing ministry leadership education as they fulfill their vital missions."

Celeste Mueller is Vocare Center director and assistant professor of Theology at Aquinas Institute. "Strengthening the capacity of leaders to transform society according to the Gospel is the mission - and the passion - of the Vocare Center," she said. "The Vocare Center is eager to work with the member organizations of the ICHA to meet the formational needs of the leaders and to engage them in ongoing conversations about emerging models of sponsorship and leadership."

Mueller said that Vocare Center includes spiritual and theological formation programs, consulting services, and research and resources for professionals working in Catholic-sponsored institutional ministries, professional life, religious congregations and parishes.

For more information about Vocare Center, visit the Web page at www.vocarecenter.org .