Since 1985

Spiritual Care Week/Pastoral Care Week is hosted by The COMISS Network: The Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings.  The first Pastoral Care Week was held in October 1985. Since then it has grown beyond national to international proportions. The celebration of Spiritual Care Week provides an opportunity for chaplains and pastoral care counselors, educators and providers to share their story and to celebrate various ministries. More specifically, the established objectives of the Spiritual Care Week Committee outline the scope of Spiritual Care Week observance:

· To celebrate the education for and practice of spiritual care through professional chaplaincy and pastoral counseling. 
· To interpret and promote pastoral care. 
· To honor and celebrate all practitioners of pastoral care. 
· To express appreciation to institutions and their staff who support pastoral care ministries. 
· To publicize the work of pastoral care organizations affiliated with COMISS. 
· To promote continuing education for clergy, laity, and institutional employees regarding the value of pastoral care. 

Each year a new theme brings to the light a certain aspect of spiritual care as a focus. A new theme invites us to new and creative ways to tell the story of spiritual care.

Celebrate This Week

Spiritual Care Week gives opportunities for organizations and institutions of all kinds and types to recognize the spiritual caregivers in their midst and the ministry which the caregivers provide.

This Year's Theme

Collaborative Health Care: Chaplains Complete the Picture

Spiritual Care Week:  October 25-31, 2020

Theme Interpretation

Sometimes a picture is more informative and revealing than either words or actions, referencing the thought, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Collaborative Healthcare: Chaplains Complete the Picture encourages professionals and constituents across the healthcare continuum to view the work of chaplains as part of an image that conveys inclusive healthcare practices among spiritual care practioners. Viewing chaplains through a lens whereby they collaborate to provide holistic interdisciplinary care, that otherwise would not be complete if the chaplain were not included.

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The lens acts as a focal point to capture what is considered important and conceptualizes messages created in thoughts as images. The intent and perhaps purpose, is to reveal moments captured for later reflection. Chaplains providing spiritual care in spaces that affirm and value their contribution can foster an impression or an idea about what is considered important for care. The question then is what are all of the components of practices, and services that shape the outcome of care?  The chaplain needs to be within the frame of focus for healthcare professionals, patients and families who directly benefit from their presence and spiritual care services. All stakeholders look through the lens and assign a value for all providers in the frame, including the chaplain.

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When chaplains are serving as part of an interdisciplinary team they are visible and regarded as an integral part of patient care. It is during these experiences, scope of practices, and interactions that the chaplain becomes one of the central subjects of focus of this picture and image. They are within the lens, within focus and demonstrate relevance as they give meaning to their trade as a chaplain.  

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This Year's Logo

The Spiritual/Pastoral Care Week Committee

For more information or to send feedback or comments please e-mail the

Pastoral Care Week Committee c/o 

Chaplain Clyde Angel

at Clyde.Angel@pairs.com

Pastoral Care Week Committee:

Clyde Angel-Chair

Elaine Barry

Brenda Brown

Kathleen Gallivan

Karen Moore
Peter Oliver
Kimberly Russell 

MERCHANDISE TO SUPPORT YOUR CELEBRATION

Spiritual Care Week is no longer offering Spiritual or Pastoral Care Week celebration merchandise.  If you desire to have items available to support your local Spiritual Care Week celebration, we encourage you to download one of the printable logo images above and take it to a local printer or merchandiser to create any desired celebration items.

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info@COMISSNetwork.org