Rooted in Catholic Values
Continue your spiritual journey
The full-time Spiritual Care team supports the spiritual needs of all residents providing services, workshops, and consultations unique to each individual. At Mary’s Woods we welcome all faith traditions, spiritual expressions and hold space for the spiritually curious.
All Are Welcome
We believe the stories and experiences lived out in a person’s life adds value to our community creating a vibrant environment for living and learning. This aspect of our communal welcome is what adds to the richness and texture of who we are campus-wide. Our unique commitment to attend to the full development of the human person, more specifically, the emotional and spiritual component of our humanity, is experienced and nurtured by our Spiritual Care team of chaplains.
One definition of Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred (credit for definition of Spirituality, Christina Puchalski, MD, Director of the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health).
How Spiritual Care Supports You
When a person’s way of making meaning in the world begins to shatter and break down because of an illness, death, loss, or unforeseen event, a person experiences what chaplains call spiritual distress. Chaplains help residents and their families engage this part of their humanity in connection with how this distress is impacting everyday life.
Chaplains, as clinical providers, have a number of interventions to support the lives of those in need. This resource is available to all Mary’s Woods residents and families without cost. This is a ministry offered to all.
Our Spiritual Care Team
Our Spiritual Care team is a unique resource within Mary’s Woods and unique among other continuing care communities, existing to promote spiritual well-being through a whole person approach. This team consists of Board Certified Chaplains trained and educated in the areas of aging, grief and loss, theological reflection, end of life support, crisis intervention, trauma informed care, family systems, sacred rituals, funeral and memorial planning etc.
Support in Times of Need
We offer many ways to deepen one’s spiritual life, and offer support, including:
- Deep sacred listening
- Compassionate, supportive presence
- Interfaith educational opportunities
- Support groups: Parkinson’s, Dementia, caregivers, grief
- Values assessments
- Prayer, reflection, and faith sharing
- Spiritual direction
- Sacramental ministry
- Liturgical Services, Mass, Ecumenical Worship
- Prayer shawl ministry
- Rituals of healing, including healing services
- Meditation, Centering Prayer, Taize
- Franciscan Spiritual Center—on the former Marylhurst University Campus
- Funeral and memorial planning
- End-of-life support
- Crisis support
Offering A Safe Space
Chaplains offer a safe and confidential place for residents to externalize emotions and engage openly in the realities being faced in the moment and on an ongoing basis.