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Who We Are
| Play Time with Patti - S. Patti Zureick |
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In my practice, I work with children, adolescents and adults. My counseling degree is in Pastoral Counseling, which assists me in addressing the psycho-spiritual concerns of my clients.
I have also had additional training in play therapy which I use with my young clients. Stuart Brown, MD in his book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul, notes, "The act of play itself may be outside of 'normal' activities. The result is that we stumble upon new behaviors, thoughts, strategies, movements, or ways of being. We see things in a different way and have fresh insights" (p. 18). Helping clients of all ages to "see things in a different way and have fresh insights" is essential in counseling, doing it through play is pleasurable as well! Recently, after having a session with a couple of preschool age clients, two of our office staff personnel were waiting at my door and stated, "We want play time with Patti too!", since they had heard the giggles coming from my office.
It is a blessing to be on the healing journey with each of my clients.
(Children pictured are friends of S. Patti)
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After teaching Kindergarten and first grades for 25 years, I decided to change my ministry, but to continue working with children in another way. I currently minister as a Professional Counselor at Mercy Professional Services (MPS) in Cincinnati, OH. MPS was created to minister to those who are experiencing a need for emotional healing. MPS serves all in need, including the uninsured and underserved. |
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PLC? S. Shirley Gerth |
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PLC stands for Parish Life Coordinator. The simplest way to describe the role of a Parish Life Coordinator is to say that they are basically the pastor of a parish assuming all the responsibilities and duties of a pastor except celebrating Mass and the sacraments. Of course, the title of pastor is not used. A priest moderator is named as the canonical pastor. My moderator lives in Indianapolis. My parish, St. Maurice, is in Napoleon, Indiana. As PLC I plan the sacramental portion and participate in the celebration of the sacraments in some way. I work closely with the Sacramental Minister keeping him informed of all parish happenings. One image I have of a PLC is as a bridge-builder, being the person who connects the sacramental minister with the people. It's my responsibility to know the names and something about my parishioners and see that the Sacramental Minister knows those things also. I'm presently in my "brick and mortar" stage. Recently we had a mortgage burning service and we built a new parish center. It is a great responsibility to participate, encourage and minister to the people of St. Maurice. It is one I do not take lightly, but enjoy immensely. |
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10+ out of 10 - S. Marilyn Chall
I do a lot of coordinating and enabling so that parishioners can eventually take on more responsibility for their parish. I am the pastoral minister at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Washington, Missouri. I coordinate the PSR (Parish School Religion Program), Sunday Pre-School, Children's Liturgy of the Word, the Parish Visiting Team, which visits our parishioners in Health Care Facilities, and our RCIA Process. I visit any or our parishioners who are in the hospital and I schedule and help take communion to our homebound. I help families who have lost a loved one prepare the funeral Mass and I help my wonderful pastor, Fr. Mike Boehm, with wake services.
I try to work side by side with the parishioners whether it is helping to paint or just join in the fun. I am, like Fr. Mike, sort of on call for a lot of things or ideas. I am blessed to have a pastor who does the same and is a real co-minister with me. Our teamwork gets a 10+ our of 10. I do all of this because I love it and I have many volunteers to help me. I just have everything ready for them to do what needs to be done and I lead or dig in. Our parish has had some hard times but they, with good leadership, know how to rise above it all. Fr. Mike gives that and I am right along with him. Amen...Alleluia.
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Every Day is Sacred - S. Marjorie English
 I am Coordinator of Spiritual Services at Prairewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Iowa. In that capacity I do many things. I have a group called Wednesday Women that I facilitate each week. This lively group meets every Wednesday to be spiritually enriched, updated, inspired and challenged. Monthly I facilitate a Peer Supervision Group, a Ministry Reflection Group and a Group Spiritual Companioning session. Periodically I co-present a four session Dream Workshop Series  followed by facilitating a dream group that meets once a week for six sessions helping people understand their dreams. I see 25-30 people for one-on-one spirtual direction each month. I work on directed retreats when they are scheduled. I am on the team that facilitates our Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (S.E.E.L.) retreat. This is an Ignatian retreat spread out over nine months. In addition I do scheduling, interviewing and orientation for our volunteers. I do this because I love it. All these activities allow me to interact meaningfully with others supporting their spiritual lives and ministry. My gifts and skills match what is needed in each of these activities and that is very satisfying. |
 Indiana Network for Higher Education Ministries - S. Jackie McCracken S. Jackie McCracken works on the team at INHEM which conducted its annual orientation for interns and supervisors in August. All interships began in the fall of 2012, and most extend through the end of May 2013. The individuals above represent interns and supervisors from diverse campus ministy programs at Indiana University, Purdue University and Indiana State University. The annual internship orientation mixes fun, reflection, networking, and good food as interns and their supervisors prepare for campus ministry responsibilities that include leading small-group discussions, preaching at worship services, planning service events and outreach to students on campus. (S. Jackie is on the far right.)
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Music in the Air - S. Noella Poinsette
It's my 3rd year working with the Sisters of Charity in their nursing and assisted living facility as part of the Spiritual Life Team. Starting up a chime choir has been a joy - none of them knew how to read music in the beginning, but now I  enjoy arranging classics like Pachelbel's "Canon in D", Mozart's "Ave Verum Corpus", a hammered dulcimer piece, "Southwind", etc. for them. If they can be there, they never miss. A major focus of my ministry here is creating slide shows that are often prayer experiences whether these are on the mystics, the murals of Aurora, wabi-sabi, the beauty of winter, or a spirit-filled vacation in West Virginia. With my photography I also create "elevator art" which incorporat es quotes from Scripture, Rilke, Rumi, Chittester, O'Donohue, etc. Recently we've started having a Mass every week where we have a trio (two Charities playing violin and guitar and me on the piano); this is often my favorite Mass of the week. Otherwise it's only me leading everyone in song. I also initiate social justice advocacy opportunities for the Sisters - and some education when needed. Today, we're watching a DVD and then taking action on comprehensive immigration reform. Besides these creative elements of my ministry, visiting is another facet. It's a definite change from the diversity of teaching or parish music but it's another face of God. (Right: S. Noella is in the middle.)
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