I would like to share with you my own personal-faith journey in ministering to the sick at Cape Regional Hospital, Cape May Court House. This pastoral care to the sick gives me the opportunity to represent in persona Christi the healing power of God.
Catholic hospital chaplaincy provides spiritual care to Catholic patients who are weakened by illness and confined in hospitals. The hospital is often a sad environment. You see the reality of people from all walks of life who are suffering and dying. The challenge that I face when I visit the sick is this: How am I going to let them feel that God is love?
The objective of my visit is to let the sick feel the power of faith, hope and love manifesting through the sacraments that I administer and the words that I share. It can be a depressing environment, but the power of God’s love is visibly manifesting through the sensitivity and care of the doctors, nurses, aides, caring loved ones, chaplains and praying community.
The foundation of my ministry to the sick is Jesus Christ, our Divine Healer. The Spirit has anointed Jesus to heal, to lift up, to encourage, to teach, to give sight and freedom.
The church continues Christ’s ministry of healing in a variety of approaches. The Diocese of Camden is doing an excellent job of taking care of the spiritual needs of the sick. With humility, being a chaplain, I am carrying forward Christ’s healing ministry to the sick by being present and administering the sacraments of holy Communion, reconciliation and anointing of the sick.
My pastoral work in the parish is intertwined with my hospital ministry. When I visit the sick, I am also fulfilling the vision and mission of the parish. In other words, the hospital ministry is also part of the parish’s on-going mission of building up the Christian community.
My spiritual journey in the parish is the very source of energy that truly inspires me to minister to the sick.
Pope Francis invites us “to open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help” (Misericordiae Vultus, 15).
The sick Catholic faithful who are confined to hospitals are included in this challenge. The sick are not only struggling physically, but they are also suffering from emotional, psychological and spiritual pains. It is an awesome assurance that in their moments of vulnerability, there is a Catholic presence that generously shows compassion to them.
Jesus inspires us to reach out with concern to bring life and hope to others who are sick.
He urges us to touch, to heal, and to console. Christ says, “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the fullest” (Jn 10:10). This is what he did to sinners, the sick, the blind, the paralyzed and the dead. Life burst forth for those people like a fountain of well-being because he came to supply it abundantly. That is what human compassion is all about.
As a priest chaplain, I may not be able to work miracles, but I can share in the healing work of Christ. I can give them holy Communion for their spiritual nourishment. I administer the sacrament of the sick to heal their souls. I can hear confession for their conversion and reconciliation. I can help the sick cope with their difficulties by a friendly and cheerful visit with words or gestures of encouragement.
When we touch a sick person, that sick person will not be physically healed. But I am sure that as we touch the sick person, the broken heart of that person will be healed. The wonder of the human touch has mended so many broken hearts. The human hands have power to bring healing, to bring joy, and to bring consolation.
The sick need the love of God made real for them through the experience of care and concern shown by the people around them. Just by being there, even though we are powerless, we can make faith in God real for them. To show that God is there to protect them from devastating fears, doubts, worries and anxieties that paralyze their spirits. He is there to give them the courage and grace to journey with him so that whatever illness may do to their bodies, it will bring clarity, peace and dignity to their souls.
Thus, this Catholic chaplaincy ministry at Cape Regional Hospital allows me to make these following profound realizations:
— It teaches me that the world is full of suffering people.
— It gives me a lesson that a life entrusted into the care of Jesus Christ finds hope and healing.
— It challenges me that hope can be reinforced through concrete expressions of love.
— It makes me aware that our pain can motivate us to pray with others.
— It leads me to believe that as we pray and support the sick, we receive abundant blessings from God
Every Christian is called to this ministry of healing in one way or another. And we have this truth: If the Lord gives us a mission, he will also give us the resources and sufficient grace we need to carry it out. May we never lose this missionary spirit of helping the sick, for there’s still so much to be done.
May we always pray:
Lord, give us a gift of healing and evangelization. Open our eyes, our hearts, our hands, our ears, our wills to the needs of the sick. Give us a zeal to reach out and touch the sick with your healing love. Bless all the sick in our diocese, their loved ones, families, healthcare professionals, and all the people who are lovingly taking good care of the sick. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Father Cosme de la Pena serves as parochial vicar at Our Lady of the Angels Church and chaplain at Cape Regional Hospital, Cape May Court House.
For more information or questions about the services provided by VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services of the Diocese of Camden, contact our Call Center at 1-888-26VITALity (1-888-268-4825).
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