Catholic Care Center, a full continuum of care retirement community located in Bel Aire has been selected by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ to assume sponsorship of their Villa Maria and Maria Court senior living facilities in Mulvane, Kansas.
Villa Maria is the longest standing Catholic senior living ministry in the area, originally founded in 1950 by the Catholic Diocese of Wichita under the direction of Bishop Mark Carroll. From the beginning the religious Sisters, Adorers of the Blood of Christ, managed the ministry, and in 1960 sponsorship of the community was transferred to their order.
The Sisters elected to end their sponsorship and operation of the ministry due to the increasing complexities of Long-Term Care and they identified Catholic Care Center as an ideal candidate to continue the ministry. Catholic Care Center is a fully owned ministry of the Diocese of Wichita and has a long-standing tradition as a leader in senior living and Catholic healthcare.
“We feel that the coming together of these two Catholic senior living ministries is a pivotal moment for both ministries. It allows us to move forward as one ministry working together to best serve the ever-changing needs of seniors in the community with the compassion and care that our two ministries are known for.” —Sister Fran Schumer, Executive Director ASC Health, Inc.
The transfer of sponsorship will be effective July 1, 2025 pending final approval, which is expected soon. The ministry will be known as Villa Maria, a ministry of Catholic Care Center. At this time no major changes in staffing or programs are anticipated. This new combined ministry is comprised of 94 assisted living apartments, 40 memory care rooms, 217 dual certified long-term care/short term skilled nursing beds, and 92 independent living patio homes.
