UPDATE: Continuing Education Weekend – Christ the King Retreat House
Pastoral Care… clergy dealing with all aspects of aging, sickness and the finality of dying. How should we, as Permanent Deacons, approach this most central aspect of our ministry of charity to the communities that we serve?
As Fr. Corey Van Kuren, Chaplain, Wilson Memorial Hospital, explains it, the Christian view of aging, sickness and dying are truly “counter cultural”. We are urged to accept suffering as Jesus did the on the Cross, and instead of denying death’s approach at the end of this life, we are to embrace death as the beginning of eternal life.
“In our delivery of pastoral care, we should be solidly grounded in 3 areas: scripture, theology and faith tradition.” he explains. At the Deacons’ Education Weekend, Ministering to the Sick, the Dying and the Bereaved, Fr. Corey focused especially on scripture: be armed with scripture with a focus on “they”, not “me”.
As compassionate workers bringing comfort to those in need, we must focus first on who we are comforting: do we know their family, their circumstances, their needs. Our preparation, that is focused on ourselves is secondary.
God Is Already Present
It’s too easy to forget that God is already present to the aging, sick or dying. As Fr. Corey noted, “God gets up before us and speaks to those in need.” As ministers, we must acknowledge His presence and rely on His help; we must call on Him and let Him know that we are open to Him.
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Posted by Dc. Tim McNerney at Christ the King Retreat House
