By Sr. Chilee Okoko, DMMM and Maria Valadez
The 2021 Diocesan Healthcare Professionals and Spiritual Care Providers Retreat/Day of Prayer took place July 24 on Zoom. In light of the events and challenges of the last several months since the beginning of the pandemic, the theme of this year’s gathering was “Trusting in Your Goodness and Mercy, O Lord.”
The men and women who serve in the healthcare industry are one of the most important groups on the frontline in providing compassionate, professional services to the sick and dying. This event was dedicated to their spiritual and mental wellbeing.
This event started in 2019 and is organized by the Department of Life, Dignity and Justice. It is now an annual Diocesan event and serves as an avenue for these professionals to share their blessings and challenges with colleagues serving in the many healthcare facilities in the Diocese. It also provides the Diocese the opportunity to pray with them and offer them words of encouragement and affirmation.
Sister Teresa Maher, a board-certified chaplain at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, was the facilitator for the day, while Father Cyriacus Okoro, a chaplain at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Riverside, shared a 20-minute reflection on the theme of the day.
In Fr. Okoro’s reflection, titled “Total Self-Abandonment to the Will of God,” he explained that in times of uncertainty, it is necessary to be like children and trust in the Father completely with reassuring hope that He is with us. Trusting in the goodness and mercy of the Father is precisely what self-abandonment to His will consists of.
Afterwards, there was time for participants to meditate over the reflection and then to share their stories, including their blessings and challenges over the last year. This allowed for them to see that they are not alone in what they are feeling and expressing. Some shared the same challenges. Some were able to relate to the same blessings. Overall, the feelings expressed by these health and spiritual care providers were Christ centered and gave living testimony to their trust in the Lord.
Many of the participants expressed deep gratitude to the Diocese for thinking of them and getting them together for this day of prayer. They said they look forward to the next event in July 2022.
Sister Mary Chilee Okoko, DMMM is the Director of the Diocesan Department of Life, Dignity and Justice. Maria Valadez is the administrative secretary in the same department.