Sister M. Agnelle Ching, chief executive officer of St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii since September 2005, returned to Hawaii and the System after being away for five years, serving first as assistant general minister and then as minister for the Syracuse Region of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse, New York.
As assistant general minister, Sister Agnelle was responsible for Strategic Planning for her entire religious community, a two-year Sponsorship Study of the communities’ ministries, and Telecommunications. Her leadership memberships included the Franciscan Federation, the Neumann-Bachmann Leadership Group, and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Board memberships included St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, New York; St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Utica, New York; and Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Center, Auburn, New York.
She was also a member of the Shared Futures Task Group that finalized the reconfiguration of the Sisters from Williamsville (Buffalo), Syracuse, and Hastings-on-Hudson. In July of 2005, the newly formed congregation became known as the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. Well-executed group processes were evidenced by the success of the union of the three religious communities whose roots date back to 1855.
Sister Agnelle rejoined the System at a critical time, when it was planning for the divestiture of the renal dialysis program as well as St. Francis Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center-West.
From 1991 to 1999, Sister Agnelle served as vice president for St. Francis Healthcare System. During that time, she was instrumental in establishing the System’s mission effectiveness program and in initiating the parish nurse/community outreach program that works with volunteer health ministries in parishes to empower individuals to take an active role in maintaining their health.
In addition, she was responsible for several departments at St. Francis Medical Center such as the Dental Clinic, Communications, Environmental Services, Food/Nutrition Services, and Spiritual Services, among others.
For 30 years, Sister Agnelle was an educator in New York and New Jersey. Capacities in which she has served have included religious educator for adults as well as children, elementary school teacher, administrator, and coordinator for the Consortium of Schools in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Born and raised in Hawaii, she received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, master’s degree in religious education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham University in New York.
Sister Agnelle enjoys learning about the Hawaiian culture including its music and dance.