Hospital patients benefit from a present priest

Priest educated in clinical pastoral education ministers at two local hospitals

Fr. William Hann

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

Catholic patients at two local hospitals will receive better care under a new program employing a resident priest educated in a national pastoral care program.

The Archdiocese of Edmonton is sponsoring the program now underway at the University of Alberta Hospital and the adjacent Stollery Children's Hospital.

Since September 2005, Father William Hann has brought daily visits of comfort and prayer to the nearly 300 Catholic patients and their families who comprise the largest religious denomination in the hospital.

Crisis calls drop

With Hann available every day, crisis calls for a priest in the middle of the night or on weekends have decreased significantly.

"Sometimes I get called by patients who are not Catholic, but generally my ministry is that at the beginning of the day I get a list of the Catholic patients," said Hann, a priest from the Diocese of Victoria.

"I also get referrals from the on-call chaplain and the two other Roman Catholic chaplains (Priscilla Edwards and Terry McGhee). I go to the patient's rooms and spend time with them."

Hann described his position as being a listening presence for people in their time of crisis or uncertainty.

"They are the reason for the visit," Hann said. "I listen to their stories and their openness. I respond to their questions and provide support. I often provide the sacraments of Anointing the Sick and Reconciliation while Priscilla and Terry bring the Eucharist."

The hospital approached the archdiocese last year when it was becoming difficult for the priest assigned to the hospital to make timely visits.

Dr. Margaret Clark thought that having a priest available during the day would be an enormous benefit for everyone.

"What we envisioned last year was combining clinical pastoral education (CPE) with a Roman Catholic priest residency position so that the priest assigned to the hospital by the archdiocese could be receiving nationally recognized education for chaplains," said Clark. Clark is the CPE teaching supervisor at the U of A Hospital and a member of St. Agnes-St. Anthony Parish.

"We are providing the CPE for the priest and the position is being funded by the archdiocese," she said.

Four resident chaplains

CPE helps the chaplain to be better versed in the kinds of situations he or she is likely to experience, in part, in an acute-care environment. The hospital hopes to have four resident chaplains in the hospital who have gone through the CPE training component.

"Father William being here every day provides a continuity of care," said Meg Jordan, CPE provisional supervisor. "He can meet with a family on Monday and see them again in the course of time."

Hann will return to Victoria May 1. The hospital is currently searching for a priest to fill the one-year position as of September.

Clark said she is unaware of any other location in North America with the combination of a dedicated priest position and CPE training.

"It is hard work, but it is good clinical learning, building on the theological education priests receive and then bring it into a context of operationalizing their theology," Clark said. "It draws on the behavioural sciences to understand the human person as well as self and the divine in terms of care for others."

Hann's duties include baptisms, particularly when the newborn is in intensive care, and funerals. And in two weeks, he will perform a wedding in the hospital.

"In our changing society when the (population) is getting older, I think it is important that the Church put in the time and resources to have a priest in the hospital who is open to the CPE component. It will not only make him a better person, but it will make a more effective voice for his pastoral and personal identity," Hann said.

"A hospital is an acute, intense place where people experience trauma. A challenge for me is when I see children struggle. That's why I think it's important that the two components be linked together."

Chaplains who successfully complete CPE training can be certified through the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education (CAPPE) in Halifax. The association is a multifaith organization committed to the professional education, certification and support of people involved in spiritual and religious care and pastoral counselling.

Priestly training does not necessarily prepare one to work in an acute-care hospital, said the Rev. Paul Bergen, pastoral care manager of the U of A's aboriginal and multicultural services.

"CPE training is a benefit to the priest and the broader Catholic Church," Bergen said. "There can be a heavy load here - a lot of need.

"We saw our Catholic patients who were in crisis expecting to be administered to by the Church in ways they have been taught. We bring the Eucharist every day, but there are sacraments that require a priest," he said.

"It was a challenge to find a priest who could make time to be here and respond to calls that come late at night or on weekends."

A priest's comfort

Hann's daily rounds bring comfort to the patients, Bergen said. In intensive care, for example, there may be a Roman Catholic patient whose prognosis is not positive. Hann can put the patient and his family at ease by asking them if they would like the Anointing of the Sick during the day, while he was present.

"Father William is able to meet and pray with them through the day at a time of relative strength rather than at a moment of crisis at 2 a.m.," Bergan said.

About every six weeks, Hann and Clark meet with Father Greg Bittman, chancellor of the archdiocese, to discuss the program to see what is working and what is not.

"We discuss how to improve this new journey we are on," Hann said. "I think it provides hope and emphasizes the importance that the people of God be aware continually that this is necessary and valuable."

Hann encourages anyone with a call to chaplaincy who would like to learn more about clinical pastoral education, to call the pastoral care office at the U of A Hospital at 407-8477.

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