Jesus was a healer who looked not at the disease alone, but at the whole person, saying, “Which is easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” (Mark 2:9). Championing the sanctity of life from conception to natural death with intentional caring for our spiritual well being is the goal of health ministry. Too often we when think of someone with a medical condition, we think of them in terms of their condition, not as a person. Health ministry focuses on the person.
Health ministry at the parish level is a compassionate ministry focused on the whole person in the various stages of life from conception to death. In caring for the spiritual well being of a person, we also address their physical well-being. Health ministry has a role for everyone at a parish, not just health professionals. Everyone, including the homebound, can have a role in health ministry, as it has so many different aspects, and it crosses “lines” of family life, stewardship, social justice, hospitality, liturgy and more.
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The next training course for faith community nursing will be held Aug. 29, Sept. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, Oct. 1, 3 and 8 from 6-9 p.m. at UnityPoint Trinity in Rock Island, Ill. Cost is $300. Contact hours can be earned. For more information or to register by Aug. 16 contact Guebert at (309) 779-5122 or visit www.unitypoint.org/quad-cities/parish-nurse.
Celebrate 30 years of faith community nursing
UnityPoint Trinity will celebrate 30 years of faith community nursing Nov. 14 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Gerber Center on the Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Ill. The Rev. Scott Morris, founder and chief executive officer of Church Health in Memphis, will be the keynote speaker. Church Health, which opened in 1987, provides quality, affordable healthcare for working, uninsured people and their families. A meal will be served. For more information or to register contact Linda Guebert at linda.guebert@unitypoint.org or call (309) 779-5122.