Ascension St. Vincent—part of Ascension, one of the nation’s leading Catholic and non-profit health systems—recently held a formal commissioning for its 19 Indiana hospital presidents and several executive leaders, affirming their roles in advancing the organization’s mission as a Catholic ministry.
“The commissioning –or formal blessing of leadership – is best described as an external, visible sign of unity and an expression of our identity as a ministry of the Catholic Church,” said Loraine Brown, Chief Mission Integration Officer at Ascension St. Vincent. “Our ministry is rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer. This ceremony is also a sign that our leaders are called to be servant leaders, to serve first.”
Each leader was called to the stage, where their hands were blessed with olive oil in the sign of the cross—a powerful symbol of healing, struggle, and strength. This ritual draws from the rich traditions of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, where oil was used by kings and prophets as a sign of unity with God. Historically, oil has represented vitality and resilience—used by ancient peoples for strength and healing, and even today by athletes to prepare their bodies for exertion.
Father Jude Nwaigwa, chaplain and sacramental minister at ASV Indianapolis Hospital, led the opening prayer and presided over the ceremony.
Newly commissioned leaders alongside those who supported and participated in the commissioning (left to right):
- Dan Parod - president, ASV Indianapolis
- Aleks Overbey - president, ASV Fishers
- Loraine Brown - ASV Chief Mission Officer (participant)
- Marion Teixeira - president, ASV Anderson
- Chad Perkins, MD - Chief Medical Officer, AECN
- Don Damron - president, ASV Kokomo
- Lori Shannon - president, ASV Heart Center
- Marty Mattingly - administrator, ASV Warrick
- Jane Craigin - administrator, ASV Williamsport
- Alex Chang - president, ASV Evansville
- Donna Cassidy - administrator, ASV Salem
- Chad Dilley - president, ASV Carmel
- Shelley Miller - administrator, ASV Randolph
- Stephen Swinney, MD - ASV Chief Clinical Officer (participant)
- Dana Muntz - president, ASV Rural Health
- Christina Crank - administrator, ASV Jennings
- Ann Yates - administrator, ASV Mercy
- Jamie Webster - administrator, ASV Clay
- Parveen Chand - ASV Chief Operating Officer (participant)
- Jill Perry - ASV Chief Nursing Officer
- Stephan Masoncup - ASV Chief Strategy Officer (participant)
- Fr. Jude Nwaigwa - chaplain, ASV Indianapolis (presider)
