Today, VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services held its annual retreat for members of its Parish Nurse Ministry.
Parish nursing is a specialty area of professional nursing that integrates nursing and ministry within a faith community. The focus of the Parish Nurse Ministry is to function as a healing and teaching ministry by following Christ’s example and seeking to care for the body, mind, and soul. This is accomplished by intentionally caring for the human spirit through health and wellness promotion, prayer, and emotional and spiritual presence within a parish community. The Parish nurse ministry does not provide direct hands on nursing care but rather works to empower parishioners to attain physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness.
Today’s retreat embraced the current National Eucharistic Revival. Following Mass, VITALity Catholic Health Care Services executive director, Deacon Jerry Jablonowski encouraged the parish nurses to reflect on how their ministry emanates from the Eucharist, where they are fed to go forth and minister to those in need. He also challenged them to reflect on the health of their own faith. “A grave danger we face is complacency in how we practice our faith.” He asked them reflect on their prayer life and activity within the Church, to better understand the manner they choose to worship.
Deacon Jablonowski also reminded them that in their ministry “we cannot encourage a person back to the church unless they trust us. We represent Christ.” But he found it encouraging that a recent study found that 79% of people rank nursing as high or very high with regards to trust. “So you’re already starting from a high level,” he said with a smile.
The parish nurses then broke into small groups to reflect on the four pillars of the eucharistic revival: bring people to Jesus, reinvigorate devotion, deepen formation, and be a missionary to bring Jesus to the world.
After lunch, Nicole Keefer, RN, Parish Nursing director and retreat leader, offered a short reflection before sending the parish nurses off for a period of personal prayer. “Remember the healing presence of parish nursing. Like a priest brings the Eucharist to people, in our vocation, we bring the spirit of Jesus to the people.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
