Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is a process of strengthening people in their faith and helping them resolve spiritual concerns. Through a coordinated effort from Pastoral Care Workers, Lutheran clergy and many dedicated volunteers, the Care Centre offers worship opportunities each month in the long-term care facilities, ensures individuals of our faith group are visited regularly, and their families are supported.

As a religious/spiritual service, accepted protocol is that we initiate contact only with individuals who have identified themselves as Lutheran or have an affinity to the Lutheran Church. This does not preclude any individual from requesting that our Pastoral Care Worker meet with them. In such a case, our Pastoral Care Workers would take an ecumenical approach that is respectful of the person's faith and beliefs and means of expressing their spirituality. If through discussion, an affinity to a particular faith group is identified, our Pastoral Care Worker would assist in establishing or re-establishing a link with a church or minister of that faith group for ongoing spiritual care.

Working mostly with the elderly with various health problems, the Pastoral Care Workers find the most appropriate way to minister to each individual. This may include reading to someone with poor vision, singing familiar songs and comforting them in their loneliness. The Pastoral Care Workers are often called upon to comfort residents or their families in life's most difficult situations, especially when death is near. They share a time of prayer, a familiar scripture passage, and the promise and comfort of the Gospel.

Not only do the Pastoral Care Workers attend crisis situations, but they also celebrate blessings of a long life when they attend birthdays or other special celebrations. As the concerns of residents are expressed, Pastoral Care Workers may take on an advocacy role with health care staff or families.

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