YOUNGSTOWN — Bon Secours Mercy Health is selling its three senior care facilities in the Mahoning Valley to a New Jersey-based health care firm, a decision that’s been met with concern by the Diocese of Youngstown.

The move — part of Bon Secours Mercy Health’s full divestiture of skilled nursing and assisted and independent living operations in Ohio, Virginia and Florida, according to the diocese — includes Humility House in Austintown and The Assumption Village and Marian Living Center in North Lima.

The transaction with Aventura Health Group is expected to close by the end of the year, Mercy Health-Youngstown spokesman Jonathan Fauvie. said

“Aventura has more than 60 years of experience in skilled nursing and assisted living care, and a long history of providing compassionate care to residents and patients within their facilities. Their focus is on continued investment in our facilities to ensure care is provided in a way that honors the rich foundations established by Mercy Health, and we are confident that they are the right partner to care for patients and residents well into the future,” Mercy Health provided in a statement.

“As we continue through the diligence process, we are committed to keeping our associates, residents, patients and families informed and updated on the path forward.”

Humility House is a senior living facility; The Assumption Village, skilled nursing and rehabilitation; and Marian Living Center, assisted living. Staff, residents and families already have been notified of the sale. All three house a combined 300 residents, Fauvie said.

The sides are in the due diligence phase of the pending transaction.

The diocese was informed of the decision Monday. Bishop David J. Bonnar met with local Mercy Health officials Wednesday to “express his concern and sadness” the facilities will no longer operate as Catholic facilities in the diocese.

The facilities “have served the diocese as Catholic facilities for many years with dedicated employees,” Bonnar said in a release from the diocese. “They have provided residents and family with care and compassion tending not only for their physical and emotional needs, but for their spiritual needs.”

According to the diocese, the Rev. Joseph P. Cardone, chief mission officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, wrote to the diocese, “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 completive.”

Bon Secours Mercy Health has asked Bonnar for his permission, or votum in canon law, regarding the alienation of ecclesiastical property it plans to send to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Bonnar, however, said in the release “further study and discussion needs to happen before a votum is given.”

Aventura operates three facilities in Pennsylvania, according to its website: two west of Philadelphia in Wester Chester and Prospect Park and the third in Carbondale north of Scranton.

rselak@tribtoday.com