Living in the Already While Embracing the Not Yet: Ministerial Juridic Persons and the Eschatological Horizon of Christian Life

While Catholic health care is often framed in terms of business and service delivery, it rarely speaks of itself in eschatological terms. However, this perspective is essential for maintaining a connection to its overarching theological purpose and ecclesial identity. Catholic health care participates in the eschatological mission of the Church, contributing to the salvation of souls and building of the Kingdom of God. Especially within the United States, the emergence of ministerial juridic persons has come to fill the need for leadership and governance of Catholic health systems as there are fewer women and men religious from sponsoring congregations who are willing and able to take on those roles. Ministerial juridic persons, because of their place of leadership within organizations and their relationship canonically with the Church, have the responsibility of orienting Catholic health care to its fundamental and primary internal good, participation in the eschatological mission of the Church.