Reflection on the Significance of Spiritual Care Week

We just celebrated Spiritual Care Week 2022. I consider it an honor for our spiritual care team to serve beside the myriad of healthcare professionals in the places we serve. Below I wanted to share what I thought is the significance of recognizing Spiritual Care Week:

 1.   Spiritual Care Week is strategically located during the month of October, also a time when many celebrate Pastor/Minister’s Appreciation Month; and thus, lightly linking it to our local religious community.

2.   Spiritual Care Week highlights the background, training and expertise of professional spiritual/pastoral care providers (i.e. chaplains).

3.   For the places we serve, Spiritual Care Week reminds all of us that Spiritual Care is integral to the whole person care process; and thus, it helps to remember our mission to be holistic care communities.

4.   Basic Spiritual Care practice is foundational within all whole person care clinical practices, thus included in all our roles.

5.   Spiritual Care practice utilizes the art of presence in every person-to-person interaction – recognizing that this presence creates community for healing – a healing that helps one face the realities at hand.

6.   Spiritual Care always respects and practices faith friendly care.

7.   Spiritual Care in holistic care practice is different from religious care – always respecting the beliefs of the care-recipient.

8.   Spiritual Care in holistic care practice can include religious care if it is in line with the beliefs of the care-recipient.

9.   Spiritual Care never tries to manipulate others to believe the same way as the caregiver; rather, the caregiver engages in listening and empathy to understand the care-recipient’s beliefs and experiences through the mystery of illness and healing.

10. Spiritual Care in holistic care practice, selflessly given, creates an opportunity for grace, love and blessing to be experienced by both the care-recipient and the caregiver.