YOUNGSTOWN — Bon Secours Health Board and Bon Secours Mercy Ministries has decided to approve a complete divestiture and sale of its operations and facilities involving skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living in Ohio, Virginia and Florida.

The ministry locations in the Diocese of Youngstown affected by this transition to a for-profit company are The Assumption Village, North Lima and Humility House, Austintown.

The Rev. Joseph P. Cardone, chief mission officer, wrote in a letter: “As a ministry, we are focused on providing full continuum of care for our patients and residents, but it is essential that we are mindful of our core competencies and growth priorities, and do what is best for those we serve, never becoming complacent. The skilled nursing and assisted living service lines are capital-intensive and require significant re-investment at most facilities to remain both high quality” and competitive.

Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown on Wednesday met with local administrators of Bon Secours Mercy Health to express his concern and sadness that Bon Secours Mercy facilities will no longer operate as Catholic facilities in the Diocese of Youngstown.

Bonnar said “that these two facilities have served the diocese as Catholic facilities for many years with dedicated employees. They have provided residents and family with care and compassion tending not only for their physical and emotional needs but for their spiritual needs.”

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