Education for Faith Communities

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Virtual Day Retreat 2021

From Darkness into Light: Encountering the Heart of Christ

Saturday, April 17, 2021, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ET

The theme of this year’s retreat is “From Darkness into Light: Encountering the Heart of Christ” and will be facilitated by Dr. Carolyn (Carrie) Nickerson who provides ongoing spiritual and retreat direction including the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL), and serves on the Leadership Team of the Pneuma Spiritual Direction & Leadership Program at Pneuma Institute in Pittsburgh, providing instruction and supervision. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International and was very well received at the 2017 Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Retreat, “Listening and Becoming Free.”

Carrie resides in Cresson, PA and is a married Roman Catholic lay woman, mother of three adult daughters, grandmother, and music minister in her parish with experience in nursing, midwifery, and nursing education. She completed a Master of Arts in spiritual and pastoral care at Loyola University in Baltimore MD; requirements for certificates in spiritual direction & leadership, and direction of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises at the Pneuma Spiritual Direction & Leadership Program, Pittsburgh, PA; the Retreat Directors Workshop at Loyola House, Ignatian Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and a certificate of advanced studies and supervision at West Virginia Institute for Spirituality. She also has a Master of Science Degree in Maternal Child Nursing & Midwifery, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Program Planning & Evaluation.

This retreat is based on the spiritual exercises in Putting on the Heart of Christ by G. Fagin SJ and will explore what it is like to wait on God, the experience of loving service, and the fruit of prayer. The day will consist of Scripture, prayer, music, videos, guided contemplation, and group discussions lead by the retreat facilitator. Our Scripture theme is Proverbs 16:3 NLT “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

This year’s virtual retreat is provided via Zoom Web Conferencing. The opening session begins at 10:00 a.m. ET and the retreat ends by 3:00 pm ET. A lunch break is included in the agenda. This retreat serves as a time away from personal and professional responsibilities as we contemplate our spiritual life and relationship to God.

The cost of the retreat is $45.00 per person. Limited, partial scholarships are available upon request by contacting the office at 412-232-5815 or ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org.

By April 12, 2021, please send completed registration form along with a check for $45.00 made payable to Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program, Mercy Health Center, 1515 Locust Street, Suite 705, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5154. For more information, call 412-232-5815 or email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org or visit https://www.pittsburghmercy.org.

VIRTUAL DAY RETREAT FLYER & REGISTRATION FORM

For more information about our next Spiritual Retreat, please contact us at 412-232-5815 or email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org.

Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference 2021

Emerging with God’s Grace: Care, Counseling, & Ministry after the pandemic

Friday, May 21, 2021, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET

The 2021 Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference will be offered as a free, online conference.  This is a special gathering that will include reflections and words of wisdom from our faith leaders; conversations on addiction and recovery, congregational ministry, grief, mental health and wellness, caring for our families (children and elders); and closing prayers for our community.

The registration link is coming soon.

PPCC 2021 Flyer

For more information, please contact us at 412-232-5815 or email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org.

Faith Community Nursing & Health Ministry Education: Customized for Your Ministry

The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program offers creative heath ministry workshops and education programs for laypersons and health professionals who want to serve their faith communities. We’ll work with you to prepare programs that will meet the unique needs of your faith community or organization. We’ll also tailor topics to fit your learning needs.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • What is Health Ministry?
  • Advocacy & Referral
  • Building a Health Ministry Team
  • Coordinating Volunteers
  • Promoting Health & Wellness in Your Faith Community
  • Spiritual Care of the Elderly with Dementia
  • Understanding Grief & Loss
  • Visitation Ministry.

Depending on the topic, health ministry education programs can last from two to six hours.

We encourage a minimum of 10 participants per program.

Health ministry education programs are offered at no cost to faith communities and faith-based organizations. However, to cover the costs of travel, education materials (hand-outs), and advertisement in “The Faith Connection,” our monthly e-newsletter, we gladly accept donations.

To design a health ministry education program to meet the needs of your faith community or organization, please contact us at 412-232-5815.

Candle Meditation & Prayer Gatherings 2021

A wonderful opportunity to experience spiritual awareness and group faith sharing through a virtual setting. All are invited to this quiet place and time to prayerfully reflect on whole-person health … balancing body, mind, and spirit. You are invited to this special time away to continue with safe, better health and well-being.

These virtual offerings are FREE.  Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, meeting ID, password, and agenda. Dial-in option is available. Registration deadline is by 3:00 p.m. ET on the date of your choice.

Thursday, February 11, 7:00 p.m. ET – Preparing for Lent

Thursday, March 11, 7:00 p.m. ET – Spring into Action

Thursday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. ET – Summer Solstice

VIRTUAL CANDLE MEDITATION FLYER

For more information or to register, contact the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program by email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org or call 412-232-5815.

Peer Support, Learning, & Conversation 2021

The goal is to emphasize the importance of networking, fellowship, learning, and peer support for faith community nurses and health ministers as they assist their congregations and local community to better health and well-being.

The target audience is faith community nurses, health ministers, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, clergy/laity, and anyone interested in learning about wholistic care (whole-person health) approach as we commit to health advocacy and education of others.

Participants will take part in a brief learning activity such as a PowerPoint presentation, a video clip, a short article, or case study, then participate in group discussion on the chosen topic. There will be time for Q&A by using peer discussion and brainstorming.

These virtual offerings are FREE.  Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, meeting ID, password, and agenda. Dial-in option is available. Registration deadline is by 3:00 p.m. ET on the date of your choice.

Each meeting is held on the 3rd Tuesday evening of the month beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET (except where noted below) and lasts one hour.

February 16

March 16

A special Saturday session will be offered March 20, 11:00 a.m. ET and will include the same presentation as March 16.

April 20

May 18

June 15

PEER SUPPORT, LEARNING, & CONVERSATION FLYER

For more information or to register, contact the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program by email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org or call 412-232-5815.

“The simplest and most practical lesson I know … is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow.”

Catherine McAuley, RSM, Founder of the Sisters of Mercy 

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course

A new virtual course uniquely designed for adult learners … come & join us!

2021 course dates:  October 1, 2, 16, 22, 23; 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (includes 45-minute break for lunch and two 15-minute breaks)

As an educational partner of the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing (WI), a ministry of the Spiritual Care Association (SCA), Pittsburgh Mercy is an approved provider of the “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing” course. This five-day, 39.25-hour preparation curriculum is a hybrid course that includes in-classroom virtual presentations via Zoom meetings and online learning modules via HealthStream.

Our focus is on adult learning activities such as small and large group discussion, case studies, storytelling with life application, creating a spiritual care board and self-care plan, daily participant reflections, healing service, brief video clips, music, mindful coloring, guided imagery, and much more. Adult learning is not only about understanding content, but also applying life principles and sharing lessons learned with others. Adult learners excel in safe, non-threatening learning environments that encourage questions with deep reflection. This Course is uniquely designed by the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse Ministry Team and offers participants a wonderful opportunity to experience spiritual awareness and group faith sharing through virtual learning.

We invite all to this sacred place and time of learning as we allow ourselves to prayerfully reflect on whole-person health … balancing body, mind, and spirit. Our goal is to commission our participants to faith community nursing (FCN) and/or health ministry in order to heed the call for safe, better health and well-being in our faith communities and communities at large. Our instructors have diverse backgrounds, are content experts in the fields of practice they are presenting, and have many years of health ministry experience as both volunteer and salaried faith community nurses.

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Curriculum: 15 Modules

  1. The Spiritual Dimension: a) History & Philosophy of Faith Community Nursing, b) Health, Healing & Whole-Person Health, c) Spiritual Care, d) Prayer
  2. Professionalism: a) Beginning Your Ministry, b) Communication and Collaboration, c) Legal Aspects, d) Ethical Issues, e) Documenting Practice
  3. Whole-person-centered Health: a) Health Promotion, b) Behavioral Health and Faith Community Nursing, c) Violence, d) Loss, Suffering, & Grief
  4. Community: a) Assessment & Accessing Resources, b) Advocacy, Care Coordination, & Transitional Care

Credit and Cost:  Nurses earning 39.25 CECs – $350; Health Ministers – $250

  • Partial scholarships available upon request and on a limited basis. Discount for Pittsburgh Mercy employees. Apply early for $25 discount post marked by September 4, 2021.
  • Participants are required to purchase the Participant Guide (course textbook) before this course begins – see this link https://amzn.to/2NIG47d
  • Please note, the Course is limited to 20 participants. Participants completing the program will be awarded a certificate with the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing logo.

Westberg Institute prepared faculty: Amy Armanious, DNP, MSOL, RN; Kathryn Conrad, MSN, MA, RN-BC; Dorothy Mayernik, MSN, RN; Sister Rebecca Nolan, OP, BSN, MA, RN

For more information about the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course, please contact us at 412-232-5815 or email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org.

There will be 39.25 continuing education (CE) credits provided to registered nurses. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  UPMC and ANCC do not endorse any commercial products as a result of this CE activity.

Speakers have no relevant financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose in regard to Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program, part of Pittsburgh Mercy and Trinity Health, serving in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy.

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course brochure coming soon.

2021 Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course Application

Pittsburgh Mercy Health Ministry Prayer Gathering 2020 Reflections

Anne Papinchak, M.Ed. BS, PCC, Qualified Spiritual Director

On Saturday mid-morning, November 21, 2020 the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program hosted their annual Autumn event titled “Ignite the Inner Spirit” via a virtual format (Zoom invitation only). It was a special time of learning and fellowship. The purpose was to help participants network together and enhance their knowledge about spiritual care of self and others in need.

There were a total of 26 participants who shared their ideas and suggestions about self-compassion, motivating others, safe space through connection, and spiritual health. Due to the Pandemic, there was much discussion about addressing the spiritual needs of our congregations as they isolate socially. Our guest speaker and facilitator, Anne Papinchak, brought her insight and words of wisdom about the topic of self-compassion by encouraging participants to be self-aware from both a professional and personal viewpoint. Anne divided participants into small break-out groups with specific topic discussion points. Participants were enlightened with learning new practices of self-love, self-kindness, connection, and mindfulness so to create space for healing and hope.

We are appreciative of those who chose to spend their Saturday morning with us so that we could encourage each other in our ministries and professional work. Participants left with encouragement and joy as they continue to serve their Creator, families, faith communities, neighbors, and friends. We learned from each other and became better equipped to lead our faith communities through the ministry of health and healing. God’s blessings to all in the new year 2021!

Encourage one another day after day….

Hebrews 3:13 (NASB)

25th Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Symposium

Reflections from Our 25th Symposium: “Celebrating Health Ministry: Our Past, Present, and Future”

Our 25th symposium, held on Saturday, October 28, 2017, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and entitled “Celebrating Health Ministry: Our Past, Present, and Future,”  was a great success, assisting participants in reflecting more deeply on how we provide wholistic care (whole-person care) to those we serve in our faith communities. The symposium celebrated our past in faith community nursing, magnified our present service to those in need, and moved us forward to the dynamic vision for the future of health ministry.

We explored important health care trends:

  • Wholistic care
  • Cultural competency
  • Diversity appreciation
  • Complex community needs
  • Addiction
  • Behavioral health concerns.
Marlene Feagan (right) receives a Terrible Towel from Sister Rebecca Nolan (left)

Our wonderful guest speaker, Marlene Feagan, MA, BSN, RN-BC, president of Health Ministries Association, Inc. (pictured holding a beloved  Terrible Towel), encouraged all 52 attendees to address our own individual callings to health ministry as well as to look honestly at areas needing further discernment and prayer in our faith communities.

Marlene also facilitated roundtable discussions to move us beyond our ecumenical boundaries, and intersect faith and health concerns across social avenues focusing on those who are identified with homelessness, addiction, behavioral health concerns, and spiritual challenges.

She also engaged us with questions that may not always have answers when it comes to providing wholistic care in faith communities. The spirit-filled room opened and closed with prayer and singing as attendees bonded together.

Participants at our 25th Annual Symposium

We learned from each other and became better equipped to lead our faith communities through the ministry of healing. As it says in Isaiah 40:11 NIV, “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads…”. God’s blessings to you in your ministry!

For more information about the 25th Annual Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Symposium, please contact us at 412-232-5815.

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