2008 Fall Ministers' Retreat
Briarwood Conference Center
586 Shore Rd., Monument Beach, Massachusetts

October 14, 15, 16, 2008
(5PM Tuesday to 1PM Thursday)

spirit"Touching the Spirit: The Essence of Healing
"
led by Dr. Christina Puchalski, The George Washington University Institute for Spiritual Health.

As ministers, we recognize  what other professionals often miss: that Spirituality is the dimension of a person that seeks to find meaning in his or her life. It is also the quality that supports connection to and relationship with the sacred, as well as with each other. Ministry to the suffering and dying includes helping physicians and healthcare workers to be aware of the importance of the spiritual needs of those for whom and with whom we are praying. Increased sensitivity to Spiritual needs will ensure that compassion does not leave the room when the minister leaves and the medical staff returns.

Come and discover how God's plan for an effective ministry begins with a rested and discerning heart. Explore Scripture, spend time in quiet reflection and learn the prayer of integrated physical and spiritual planes all on the beautiful shorefront of Buzzards Bay. 





PuchalskiDr. Christina M. Puchalski, M.D. is an Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine and Health Care Sciences at The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. She is also the Founder and Director of The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish), a center that develops educational, clinical, and research programs for physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding the role of spirituality and health in medicine. Her research interests and expertise include: the role of spirituality in healthcare, especially regarding end of life; issues pertaining to end-of-life care; the role of clergy in health and in end-of-life care; and evaluation of education programs in spirituality and medicine. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and has been published widely in major newspapers across the country. She is also a member of The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Dr. Puchalski's work in the field of spirituality and medicine encompasses the clinical, the academic, and the pastoral application of her research and insights.




Registration Fee: $200.  No partial registrations. Deadline for registration is: September 26, 2008. Registrar: Don Bliss, 2 Washburn Rd., East Freetown, MA 02717