Diocese receives Community Partner Health Care Hero Award from SSM Health for ministry, support during pandemic

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Switchboard attendants at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital-Jefferson City had Father Louis Nelen’s and Father Jeremy Secrist’s phone numbers on speed-dial during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Armored with layers of protective gear, they and other priests ventured into restricted areas of the hospital, administering sacraments and helping the staff reveal God’s healing presence to the sick and dying.

“There were weeks that we could have had Fr. Nelen on the payroll for as many times as he came in for us,” Joshua Allee, SSM St. Mary’s director of mission effectiveness and pastoral care, told Bishop W. Shawn McKnight.

Mr. Allee said the priests’ duties consisted mostly of “anointing patients as they were dying, oftentimes from COVID, and being present to the staff.”

Father James Finder, who carries out many Catholic chaplain duties at the hospital, was vulnerable to the COVID infection and had to limit his contact with patients for a while.

Even Bishop McKnight was called upon one snowy morning to minister to a dying patient when no other priest could get to St. Mary’s.

He observed how the medical and support personnel carried out their duties efficiently and respectfully while working under unimaginable stress.

He recalled having to wear so much protective equipment, patients couldn’t tell that he was a priest.

“It was surreal,” he said. “But I was amazed at all the holy work the people around me were doing.”

Other Catholics throughout the area offered whatever support they could, such as Catholic school students sending care packages and notes of encouragement to the hospital staff.

For all of these things, SSM Health’s Central Missouri Region selected the Jefferson City diocese to receive the Community Partner Health Care Hero Award.

SSM Health introduced the award this year to recognize employees, physicians, providers and community members who exemplified SSM Health’s values throughout the pandemic.

Michael Baumgartner, regional president of SSM Health in Mid-Missouri, and Mr. Allee presented the award to Bishop Mc­Knight, who accepted it on behalf of the diocese.

“We’re so excited to have you as a partner,” said Mr. Allee. “Clearly, those notions of charity and stewardship really came together during this pandemic.”

Mr. Baumgartner said support from the community, including spiritual support, was invaluable to the front-line healthcare workers — doctors, nurses, housekeepers, dietary employees and all whose daily experiences revolved around the pandemic.

He said most of them now seem tired but relieved and more aware of simple joys such as shaking hands and seeing people’s faces again.

“Touch is so important to our ministry,” Mr. Allee noted. “Being able to do that again means so much.

“And having patients’ loved ones at the bedside or even in the building as they’re making their journey,” he said. “For a while, it was only with FaceTime and phone conversations.”

Battle-tested

Bishop McKnight thanked Mr. Baumgartner and Mr. Allee for the recognition.

“I happily accept it on behalf of the priests and the people who have such a good relationship with St. Mary’s Hospital and see it as an important part of the community,” he said.

He also sent thanks to the hospital staff for helping the priests of the diocese get vaccinated as soon as they were eligible, so they could carry out their ministries more safely.

“Thank you very much for acknowledging our presence as we acknowledge yours,” said Bishop Mc­Knight. “We’re very grateful for you for helping us minister spiritually to the Catholics and all the people in our communities.

“It’s so vital for us in terms of what it means to be Church,” he added.

The bishop expounded on what he observed during his visit to the hospital during what he referred to as “the COVID nightmare.”

“To be with people in the midst of their service and their work right there in the environment!” he said. “All of the extra (personal protective equipment) they had to wear and the atmosphere and how much pressure they were under, every second of their working day.

“And dealing with the human reality and tragedy of people who are very ill, and families that are worried for them and can’t be there,” he added. “It was just a very stressful environment.”

Bishop McKnight believes there’s no way for people outside the hospital environment to fully understand what hospital employees were experiencing every day during the pandemic’s darkest hours.

“In some ways, I would compare it to being at war in a battle,” he surmised. “You can hear stories about it but it’s entirely different when you’re right there.”

Behind the mask

Mr. Allee noted that the pandemic has faded but not ended for hospital personnel.

He asked for continued prayers for strength and consolation “for the people who are caring for those who are making their journey home to God.”

“It’s so important to know that we have the support and prayers of the wider community in the work that we do every day,” he stated.

Mr. Baumgartner suggested watching a 36-minute documentary video produced by SSM Health, titled, “Behind the Mask.”

It presents up-close portraits of the pandemic as experienced by patients and front-line hospital caregivers and staff.

“It’s very powerful,” he said.

 “Behind the Mask” can be watched online at:

https://www.ssmhealth.com/blogs/ssm-health-matters/may-2021/behind-the-mask-documentary-ssm-health

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