WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) St. Mary's Health System has announced plans to join Trinity Health, the Roman Catholic hospital system that also is merging with Hartford's Saint Francis Care.

The organization, which operates 86 hospitals in 21 states, said it will invest $100 million over five years in Waterbury.

Under the merger plan, St. Mary's, Saint Francis Hospital, Sisters of Providence Health System, Mercy Hospital in Springfield and several other smaller hospitals will form Trinity Health New England.

The group would be run by Christopher Dadlez, the current chief executive at St. Francis.

The deal for St. Mary's still requires approval from regulators and the Catholic Church.

Hospital officials declined to say how many jobs might be lost in the merger.