“Visitor access restrictions have added another dimension and discipline to my care,” says Grey Nuns chaplain Brian Greenwood. “We now provide spiritual care in groups over the phone or via Zoom. Since much of my presence is conveyed through body language, I have had to become even more intentional to put compassion and empathy in my voice.
“My in-person family ministry has been affected as well - especially at end of life - since in-room visits are allowed to only a limited number of persons at one time. With large families needing to say good-bye, you can imagine how this has increased and intensified my ministry exponentially. For me, this adds to the sacredness of the encounter.
“Recently I served a large family at time of death who - for ritual religious reasons - needed multiple visits. I wasn't doing bedside time of death grief work once with the entire family, as is the case normally. I did it multiple times at the bedside, and then all together in the parking lot. This was one of most sacred times I've had in service.”
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