Hand in Hand: End of Life Care

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As the average age of church members continue to increase the focus of ministry for many communities of faith has turned toward offering spiritual care for their aging population. Offering educational opportunities for both lay people and ministry personnel to develop gifts and skills for this specialized ministry of pastoral care is the focus of the Hand in Hand program at Five Oaks. The purpose of this weekend program will be to:

• learn how we can walk with people at the end of their lives. This will be done through presentation, discussion and time for personal reflection. Practical suggestions will provide participants with enhanced understanding and applicable ideas.
• explore what it means to become an authentic and effective pastoral presence.
• explore theological dimensions of pastoral care at the end of life, including opportunity for participants to identify their theological comfort zone and to consider responses to theological questions that arise in pastoral care settings.
• offer participants an introduction to music as a resource for spiritual care, especially in palliative care.
• enable participants to feel more competent and confident in their role as a pastoral care provider to those at the end of life.

Leadership:
Bob Tees has served as a spiritual care provider in the Brant Community Healthcare System since 2005. Prior to that, while working as chaplain in Long-Term Care with the St. Joseph’s Healthcare System in Hamilton, Bob began exploring ways to integrate music and poetry into spiritual care interventions. Throughout his career working with college students, homeless people, long-term care residents and hospital patients, Bob has been fascinated by the intersection of art, healing and spirituality. He has over a decade of experience work with patients and families in palliative care settings.

Kathleen O’Neill, C.S.J.  is a Sister of St. Joseph who has served in the capacity of Hospital Chaplain, Director of Spiritual Care and Teaching Supervisor in the Brantford and Hamilton Hospitals. Presently she is ministering in a Parish in Cambridge where she continues her involvement with the sick and dying, in their homes, institutions and hospitals. Kathleen brings with her many years of pastoral experience and dedication and feels privileged to be sharing with you on the Topic of “End of Life Care”. 

Members of the Hand in Hand Planning Team, including Jennifer Budd and Robin McGauley, will also be contributing to the leadership of this program.

The Hand in Hand program has been significantly subsidized thanks to a grant awarded to Five Oaks from The Watkins/Ann Baker Fund of the United Church of Canada for Innovative Seniors’ Ministries.

Click here for a printable flyer for this program.

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