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A Spiritual Foundation
Light of Hearts Villa was established in 1989 by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity of Bedford, Ohio. The Light of Hearts Villa mission is rooted in the spirit and charism of St. Vincent DePaul and St. Louise de Marillac, who founded the first ministry to the elderly in the mid 1600s. This Catholic, faith-based spirit is marked by charity and love for all people, regardless of their faith or life circumstance.
The Vincentian Sisters of Charity had just closed Lumen Cordium High School (Latin for Light of Hearts) in 1987 because of declining enrollment. Lumen Cordium was an all-girls Catholic high school open from 1963 to 1987. After closing the school, the sisters immediately dreamed of a ministry to those whose needs were not yet being met.
Realizing a Dream
In 1987, the concept of an assisted living residence was unheard of, unless it was connected to a nursing home. But the Vincentian Sisters knew there were seniors that needed a supportive environment, whose health needed some monitoring, but who did not require nursing home care. They transformed the high school building into an award-winning, senior residential living and community outreach services facility. On September 1, 1989, that dream came to life when the first residents moved in to suite number one.
The Vincentian Sisters envisioned Light of Hearts Villa as the best in senior living. The sisters wanted the residents to be “light of heart” and to thrive in their new home. They wanted their families and the greater community to know Light of Hearts Villa stood for something special and would not settle for less than nurturing the treasured lives of the residents. With God’s help, these dreams have become hallmark over the years.
Light of Hearts Villa operated under the sole sponsorship of the Vincentian Sisters until August 2001 when the sisters formed a 50/50 Partnership with the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. In June 2004, the Vincentian Sisters of Charity merged with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. In December of 2014, the Sisters of Charity Health System became the sole sponsor of Light of Hearts Villa. Today, with the active support and sponsorship of this community of Women Religious, the mission and vision of Light of Hearts Villa continues to be enhanced and strengthened.
Light of Hearts Villa includes 90 apartments, a large dining room, chapel, multiple gathering areas, spacious activity center and beautiful grounds. All suites include a kitchenette, private bath/shower, wireless nurse call system and other amenities. Today, the active support and sponsorship by the Sisters of Charity Health System allow the mission and vision of Light of Hearts Villa to be enhanced and strengthened.
Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and Sisters of Charity Health System
Long before the American workplace widely accepted women in professional roles, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine were directing major health care institutions, teaching in schools and developing new programs to provide needed human services. The first Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in America served as the first public health nurses in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1851, they began an enduring legacy of responsive ministry, creative stewardship and an ongoing quest for social justice that lives on today. Throughout the years, the Sisters of Charity have been faithful to their mission to promote stronger collaboration and to encourage the development of new programs and services in response to unmet health and human service needs.
Today, Light of Hearts Villa is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, which was established in 1982 as the parent corporation for the sponsored ministries of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.
Sisters of Charity Health System
In 2009, the Sisters of Charity Health System assumed management of Light of Hearts Villa. The Sisters of Charity Health System continues the congregation’s faith-based legacy of high quality, compassionate care in partnership with its co-ministers, who are the heart and hands of the ministry. The health system solely owns three health care ministries, six outreach organizations, and three grant-making foundations that address causes and consequences of poverty.
The Sisters of Charity Health System embodies the values and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and their mission to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.