Caring for the clergy

Morris went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. “What are you up to Morris?” asked the doctor. Morris replied “Just doing what you said, Doc: ‘Get a hot Mama and be cheerful’” The doctor said, “No Morris I said; ‘You’ve got a heart murmur, be careful!’”

Health messages can get confusing and we all get a lot of information sent our way. The role of a clergy healthcare coordinator is to accompany the individual priest through their health issue or crisis. It is about being an advocate for realistic choice, supporting independence and promoting health and wellbeing.

How does that work out in practice?

• We listen and learn. What is an issue for one guy will not be for the next so we need to get to know the priests we are caring for.

• We try to be there at the right time. The health system can be like a visit to a foreign country. Having someone to help interpret the jargon and smooth the path is part of our role. It may be attending a specialist appointment together or asking the right questions in the hospital but it is all about having someone in your court.

• We fill in the gaps. We have a flexible approach that is aimed at maximum care with minimum fuss. Do you need clean pyjamas for the hospital or a referral to community services? We can assess what’s needed and get it sorted.

A voice in the Diocese

Creating an environment that encourages and enhances the ability of the clergy to self-care and having sustainable services and financial structures for clergy care are issues that leaders need to assess and address within their diocese or religious order.

Clergy healthcare coordinators are a voice in regard clergy health issues and are committed to assist in building a variety of services within the diocese that includes proactive preventative and holistic health as well as crisis support.

A National Approach

Care for the clergy has obviously come a long way. The young associate pastor helping the ageing parish priest to get into bed each night is a distant memory. Initiatives such as private health insurance and foundations to financially support priests are relatively new but have greatly improved the ability to provide for sick or ageing clergy.

I have no doubt that the NCP, the Australian Bishops and the Australian Catholic Council for Clergy Life and Ministry have some common goals in regard to improving clergy care nationally.

The Clergy Health Network has a focus on connecting the health professionals who are working in diocese around Australia. One of our goals is to be of any assistance we can in regard to improving clergy care and being a resource. It may be to assist with recruitment of a health coordinator or to be part of a broader push to have some guidelines or recommendations set up for clergy care in Australia.

The main aim is to keep this important topic on the agenda and to keep improving in how we do clergy care.

By the way Morris, I don’t think the doctor said “You’re a perfect man and in great shape” he said “Your prostate’s enlarged and you need to lose some weight”.

Cheryle Davies
Clergy Healthcare Coordinator,
St Vincent’s Hospital/Archdiocese of Brisbane