by Brad Heidrick
It has been said that a rising tide raises all ships, but in the non-profit world, this can feel like a contradiction.
In a world where so many Catholic ministries are seeking attention, fundraising support and opportunities to share their work, how do we ensure that we are truly working together for the best possible outcome?
Recently, the Catholic Community Health team had the opportunity to take a Catholic Charities bus tour (anyone can take part in a tour, and I recommend that you do: catholiccharitiesks.org/bus-tours). What might have seemed like a simple ride across the metro quickly became something more. It offered a clearer view of the breadth of work being carried out across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, work that is often unseen but deeply impactful.
For many of our team, the experience was eye-opening. Visiting places like Shalom House and the Family Support Centers prompted a simple but important question: How can we help? Seeing the work of TurnStyles Thrift Store led to conversations about how we might better support their efforts. What began as a tour quickly became an invitation to think differently about our role within a larger mission.
At Catholic Community Health, we spend a great deal of time focused on the care we provide, and rightly so. But this experience served as a reminder that our responsibility extends beyond our own ministry. CCH is part of something broader, rooted in Christ’s teaching and expressed through the corporal works of mercy. One of our challenges is creating awareness that Catholic healthcare exists in our community, including Catholic hospice, which remains the only Catholic hospice in the Kansas City metro.
Team members are finding new ways to engage, from supporting local food pantries to identifying opportunities to serve alongside other ministries. These are not large shifts; they are small, practical steps, the kind that build relationships and strengthen the foundation of our work.
Our strong CCH culture is not built through words alone. It is formed through shared experiences, a commitment to one another and a willingness to serve wherever the need exists. When we value our team members and give them opportunities to live out the mission, that culture begins to take root and grow.
In the end, a rising tide does raise all ships, but only when we are willing to move together. As Catholic ministries, we are not competitors. We are collaborators in a shared mission, called to support one another as we serve those most in need.
