We Bring You Peace This Holiday Season

Worshippers around the globe celebrate their faith and their blessings during this season.  Many find it a time of great joy, others struggle.  Sometimes the passing of time is the best solution to finding peace, hope and love in your hearts and all around you.

Regardless of your religion, spirituality is an important part of life that can become more important as we age.   And yet, advancing in years can threaten to cut one off from their spiritual practices due to changes in mobility, separation from religion or culture, death of a loved one, personal or family disaster or moving to a different place.

Friendship Village is firmly grounded in the importance of spiritual and religious practices not just because of our mission to serve older adults, but because we recognize the importance of these practices in everyone’s overall well-being, especially as they advance in years.

The  community has two ordained ministers who coordinate spiritual programming for more than 900 residents. The Rev. Shawn Kafader, also a licensed counselor, has been with Friendship Village since 2005. His ministry is among residents of Briarwood Healthcare Center and Reflections at Briarwood, providing memory support services in a skilled care setting. The Rev. Richard Oas, who is certified in Clinical Pastoral Education, has focused his ministry among residents of the community’s three residential living neighborhoods as well as The Willows Assisted Living since 2004.  They serve residents both individually and in groups.

Among retirement living communities, the Friendship Village Chaplaincy program is rare in its breadth and staffing.  The chaplains coordinate more than 25 worship services monthly. Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutheran and Shabbat services are all well attended.  Bible studies flourish at the community, some led by residents, others by the chaplains.  Prayer groups and communion services also are part of the spiritual program.

“The cornerstone of the entire program is our desire to have a spiritual population that reflects each individual’s religious conviction,” Richard said. “Music is often the bond, and it is an important aspect of all services.”

Shawn personally interviews everyone who moves into Briarwood, including those who arrive for short-term rehabilitation. Despite visiting 40 to 60 people a month, he offers a spiritual assessment of each and is willing to assist people with their own life review.  In private discussions, Shawn guides people to reframe their experience of sorrows and tragedies to bring peace into their lives.

Peace is what we all want in our lives. No matter what faith you practice, what spiritual path you’re on, all of us at Friendship Village wish you the blessings of peace, hope and love during this holiday season and the New Year.