Blessed to listen to the sick
Local
For nearly 25 years Franca Parente has been perfecting the art of listening with a kind ear and open heart as a pastoral care practitioner – providing support to those who are vulnerable and facing major health challenges. <br />
However, it is her intuitive gifts that have made her such a valuable asset of the pastoral care team at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital.
As a committed Catholic working for a Catholic health provider, Franca is well aware that many of the 15-20 patients she visits each day, or the staff she passes in the wards, may not be Catholics. Some may be faith-filled and members of different religions, whilst others may be atheists or agnostic. Whatever the scenario, Franca approaches every visit with a new patient in the same way.
“It’s about trusting your intuition, trusting the Holy Spirit,” she explained.
“You’re going into every single room not knowing how people are going to receive you. We start off by introducing ourselves and ask the patient how they are feeling. I listen with an open heart and never initiate faith first; I always listen to the patient’s story.
“When some are hesitant about the visit, l explain my role and wish them well. Sometimes after a few generic questions they may open up. I am a listening and supportive presence to them.”
The North Adelaide pastoral care team is an ecumenical team of which five are fully dedicated pastoral care workers. Two facilitate the Fra Angelico Creative Arts program in the Mary Potter Hospice. This program enables patients who are at end of life to create meaningful artwork that is given to their families after they have passed. It’s a beautiful gesture that is welcomed by those who are grieving.
Working three days a week on the wards in the main hospital, Franca said no two days are ever the same. There are always new patients to see and repeat visits to those who have been hospitalised for some time.
Franca or one of the volunteer Eucharistic ministers visit regularly with communion and sometimes she is asked to call in a priest.
“If someone is about to have surgery and they are very anxious they may ask for prayer before they go in, or to see a priest, so we organise that,” she said.
And while faith is an important part of the ethos at Calvary, Franca said it is never ‘pushed’ onto anyone.
Instead, faith-filled people are made aware of what is available to them, including the weekly Mass in the chapel, as well as the monthly Mass in the Mary Potter Hospice for patients (who can be wheeled in their beds) and family members.
Physical symbols of faith are available in the form of ‘holding crosses’ which provide comfort to some patients. Made from lightweight wood, the crosses have smooth edges and are easy for the patients to hold. At the hospice the Mary Potter Foundation gifts the patients with a handmade quilt which is later given to the family as a treasured memento.
The annual World Day of the Sick is also an important event recognised at the hospital, providing a day to focus on offering prayers and good wishes to those currently suffering illness. To honour the day on February 11, Franca and her team gave each patient a laminated bookmark featuring a special prayer of hope, with a different prayer card distributed to staff members.
Joining Calvary in 2000, Franca believes she is “blessed” to be part of the pastoral care team.
“I feel that it was a real calling to come here,” she said, explaining that she had already decided to move away from her current career to explore her faith.
Over the years this journey has included completing a Certificate in Practical Ministry, Counselling and graduating from the Ministry Formation Program.
Listening to patients who were struggling with health challenges, often with a terminal diagnosis, Franca is commonly asked three questions – ‘Why me? What have I done? Why am I being punished by God?’.
“My answer is: it is not God. God is with us on our journey. The God I love is a loving and forgiving God and he doesn’t punish us,” she said.
“We’re not perfect but he loves us unconditionally.
“Sometimes, that’s all you need to say, and people will reflect on that when you leave.
“The World Day of the Sick theme of ‘hope’ was a reminder of the importance of us providing physical, emotional and spiritual support to patients facing health challenges and their families.
“We are ministers of God’s hope to the sick and dying as we accompany them on their personal journey, and we strive to provide patients with God’s peace, love and comfort.”
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COMPASSIONATE:
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