Never Forgotten
Focused on the needs of others, Spiritual Care volunteer Stefan Nichol wanted to show patients at Joseph’s Mental Health Care Program that they are not forgotten.
Stefan Nichol’s favourite place to preach was in the chapel at Parkwood Institute’s Mental Health Care Building. Stefan was first introduced to the patients in the mental health care program as a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) student. CPE allows spiritual care practitioners the opportunity to practice their training in a clinical setting. For Stefan, who preached once a month, it was not only an opportunity to practice his craft but to spread the Good News. “It’s very important to let the patients know that they are loved by God,” says Stefan.
After COVID-19 struck, Stefan was disappointed he could no longer attend to the patients for safety reasons, so he put himself to work in other ways to meet their needs - especially over the holidays. “I connected with Jessica Baker in Spiritual Care, to find out what I could do,” states Stefan. “This can be a very anxious and isolating time for patients who are not only worried about the pandemic but who are also not seeing their loved ones as often as they typically would.”
Determined to make sure patients do not feel forgotten over the holidays, Stefan approached several organizations for monetary donations so he could gather items for Christmas gift packages. Grateful for the Bishop Hallam Theological Society at Huron University, St. George's Anglican Parish, All 4 One Biker Church, and Impact Church for their donations, Stefan went to work.
No stranger to helping those in need, Stefan has brought his ministry to the streets to aid those without a home, bringing them food, water and winter boots and jackets. “My goal is to pastor people through what they are living through, to let them know there is always hope, and to remind them of their innate worth and dignity.”
And hope is what he will bring to the mental health care program’s 142 patients. “It’s more than a care package with games and activities, comfort objects and winter apparel,” he states. “I want the patients to know that somebody is thinking of them, even outside of their own family and care givers.”
The partnership between Stefan and St. Joseph’s Spiritual Care department is bound to make a challenging holiday more joy-filled.
“Stefan has such an evident care for our patients here,” says Jessica. “He is living out his faith by reaching out to others and I’m sure our patients will be touched when they receive these packages.”