Pastoral Care Report 2008

Rev. Barbara McDowall.

Authentic Lives Chaplaincy Ministry

Guelph


I have a Certificate of Graduation from The New Seminary, New York City 2003.

The name of my ministry is Authentic Lives and I am located in Guelph, Ontario.

New program of Outreach

I offer a new service, Doula for the Dying and have had one client so far. I have office space with Hospice Wellington here in Guelph and would like to formalize that relationship by becoming their Spiritual Care Coordinator when the new 10 bed hospice is completed in 2009.

The most amazing experience of this year has been the honour of being with my first Doula for the Dying client. An awesome experience!

Study

I have read many interesting books this year including Living Meaningfully, Dying Joyfully: The Profound Practice of Transference of Consciousness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso; Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love; Kate Horsley’s Confessions of a Pagan Nun; and I have still to read Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief by Harriet Hodgson and Lois Krahn; From Grief into Vision: A Council by Deena Metzger and the 13 Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams.

I attended the PeerSpirit Circle Practicum in Ontarion in October 2008 and look forward to taking Joan Halifax’s Being With Dying End of Life Care Training in Santa Fe, NM at the end of April.

Seminars offered

In 2008, I offered the following workshops: Wake Up Call: Tools for Living Consciously; A Conversation: Living Meaningfully; Dying Joyfully; A Women’s Dinner & Conversation Series: Living & What Sustains Us.

Rituals

In 2008, I performed 37 interfaith, civil and spiritual weddings and baptisms here in Guelph and beyond. This work brings me great joy and I have loved working with the couples this year as I always do.

I also mentor clients over the phone and occasionally in person.

This is my 5th year with All Seasons Church and I continue to feel that this is the perfect fit for me. I very much love and respect each member of the organization. They are an amazing team with great hearts and each of them has a wonderful sense of humour.

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