Virtual “Foundations of Faith Community Nursing” Course has been POSTPONED
Dates for our 2023 course will be posted to this website and included in The Faith Connection newsletter.
“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
Faith Community Nursing & Health Ministry Education: Customized for Your Faith Community
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 412-442-1951.
2023 Virtual Learning, Peer Support & Networking
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 1 p.m. ET on the meeting date of your choice.
Each meeting is held on the 2n Tuesday evening of the month beginning at 7 p.m. ET (except where noted below) and lasts one hour.
For more information or to register, contact the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program by email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org or call 412-442-1951.
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 1 p.m. ET on the gathering date of your choice.
For more information or to register, contact the Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program by email ParishNurse@pittsburghmercy.org or call 412-442-1951.
Reflections from our Book Journal Club – Spring 2022
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program offered its first-ever Virtual Book Journal Club in April and May 2022. This new learning opportunity was intended to encourage spiritual growth in group participants through using a book for daily prayer and meditation. This book was titled “The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth” by well-known author and spiritual director Joyce Rupp. For six sessions, participants gathered virtually for a time of self-reflection, learning, fellowship, and spiritual reading with a communal focus on spiritual health. Guided Imagery and Visio Divina were a few of the approaches used to enhance our centering with prayer, contemplation, and spiritual listening. There were seven individuals who met regularly for this faith-sharing time which encouraged new friendships and peer bonding.
We are grateful to those individuals who participated and spread their wings with different forms of prayer. For many, this was their first time to experience a book journal club especially in a virtual format. We encourage faith community nurses and health ministers to be open to “stretching” their spiritual practices and learn new ways of connecting with Creator. Many of us left our final session with a commitment for a deeper prayer life and an appreciation for the importance of spiritual growth in our lives.
May we all take time this summer for some spiritual health and self-care which includes nature walks, walking a labyrinth, discovering Centering Prayer, engaging in spiritual &/or gratitude journaling, practicing mindful coloring, meeting regularly with a spiritual director or companion, and reading Scripture &/or spiritual works from mentors. Putting aside 10 minutes a day for some spiritual health will help in dealing with daily life challenges. We suggest scheduling this time as an appointment on the calendar with an anticipation in feeling refreshed and renewed.
This year’s Pittsburgh Pastoral Care Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102. Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program is part of the planning team. The conference is for clergy, pastors, laity, counselors, social workers, nurses, teachers, volunteers, and others in the flock helping those needing healing and recovery. Details are available at https://www.pghpcc.org/.
Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Retreat 2022 Reflections
Sister Donna Smith, SHS, of Martina Spiritual Renewal Center and Jo Ann Paradise, retreat presenter
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse & Health Ministry Program offered a spiritual retreat, “The Great Divide,” on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at Martina Spiritual Renewal Center in Pittsburgh’s West View area. A special “thanks” to Sister Donna Smith, SHS, at Martina for providing a wonderful space and lunch. Our retreat facilitator, JoAnn Paradise, brought her insight, expertise and creativity to this special group of 23 retreatants.
The purpose of this retreat was to spend time away from our busy lives and to focus on our relationship with Creator. We learned about contemplative prayer and to pay attention to what emerges inside of us through our thoughts, feelings, actions, behaviors, and silence. By reshaping our spiritual practices, we can give God our joy and draw closer to our loving Creator, which is our primary purpose in life. We build trust with God, ourselves, and others so that we can explore new and meaningful approaches to spiritual disciplines.
The Pittsburgh Mercy Parish Nurse Team gave a “toolkit” to each retreatant as encouragement to practice one’s faith and draw closer to our delightful Creator. Each “toolkit” included items to awaken the inner child in us, such as a spiritual journal, colored pencils, coloring Mandala, a small devotional book, a rock or wooden décor with inspirational words, and much more.
Day Retreat 2022 participants
Many of us left our day together with a commitment for a deeper prayer life and an appreciation to our Creator for spiritual healing that is most needed during this challenging time in our world’s history.
We close our Retreat 2022 Reflections with a prayer from Joyce Rupp titled “The Weaver.”
