CHICAGO (November 8, 2004) Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago, has named the most Rev. Jerome Listecki, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, to be the Cardinal’s Liaison for Health and Hospital Affairs, replacing Bishop Edwin Conway, who passed away in August.

Cardinal George also has restructured the Office of Health and Hospital Affairs to include two delegates to consult with Catholic health care providers on Catholic teaching and its relation to the delivery of health and human services. Fr. Michael Boland, Director of Catholic Charities of Chicago and the Archdiocesan Department of Human Services, has been named the Cardinal’s Delegate for Nursing homes, and Fr. William Grogan, a practicing attorney and Secretary to the Archdiocesan Bio-Ethics Subcommittee, has been named the Cardinal’s Delegate for Hospital Affairs.

“Previously, Bishop Conway would oversee everything involving health and hospital affairs in the Archdiocese,” noted Cardinal George. “Under the new structure, Fr. Boland and Fr. Grogan will consult with Catholic institutions and advise me and Bishop Listecki on matters involving these institutions’ implementation of Catholic teaching and their needs.”

All three new appointees have experience in health and human services. Bishop Listecki, who is also an attorney, is a retired Lt. Col. USAR Chaplain of the 330rd medical brigade, a house legal counsel to the Archdiocese of Chicago, a member of the Archdiocesan Medical Ethics Board and a chaplain to the Catholic Physicians Guild. Fr. Boland has been Director of Catholic Charities and also has been Director of the Archdiocesan Department of Human Services, which encompasses all Catholic health and human services agencies in the Archdiocese. Fr. Grogan has been Archdiocesan Secretary of the Bio-Ethics Subcommittee. He also is System Director of Clinical and Organizational Ethics for Provena Health, which owns and manages hospitals and health care facilities in the Midwest.

“Our combined expertise in health and human services will enable us to effectively meet the challenges of health and hospital affairs in the Archdiocese,” stated Bishop Listecki. “This experience will help us to ensure that Catholic health care institutions are aligned with the ethical and religious directives for Catholic health care services.”