Pastoral Care is a ministry of healing which provides emotional and spiritual support to residents, their families, and staff of St. John Senior Community. The Chaplains work as part of the healing team in conjunction with physicians, nurses, and other caregivers. Pastoral care can include responding to crises, assisting persons in the resolution of ethical questions regarding residents care, guiding residents on the stages of their final journeys, contacting pastors, priests, rabbis, or other religious representatives as requested, and providing ongoing spiritual support.

Programs and Services

• We have Masses on all Sundays of the month for residents and for their family members at 11:00 a.m. The Sunday mass is transmitted to Residents rooms.
• We have Masses for Residents on Mondays, Tuesdays, every other Wednesday and Fridays for Residents at 9:45 a.m.
• We also celebrate Mass on every Holy Day of obligation.
• We have Ecumenical Service led by Pastors of various denominations within our local Community every Tuesday at 10:45 am in the Chapel
• We have Spiritual life for all Residents every Monday at 11: 00a.m in the Chapel
• We have Rosary twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel
• We supply religious items and articles of faith to Residents
• We have Mass of Anointing once a year for Residents -on every World Day of the Sick
• We have Retreat for all Residents once a year (From 9:30 a. m. to 3:00 p.m.).
• We hold a Memorial Service once every quarter as a way to support grieving residents, families and friends
• We visit the monastery of St. Solanus once a year
• We arrange for Religious Services/ Mass for the repose of the souls of bereaved residents/staff/ families
• We provide Spiritual support and Spiritual counseling to our Staff.
• We achieve a lot of these goals through the help of our dedicated volunteers!

Pastoral Care Team

Fr. Thomas S. Ebong

Our Chaplain, Fr. Thomas Ebong, M.F.A; Ph.D, coordinates spiritual care for St. John Senior Services at Father Murray Nursing Center, Center Line and St. John Senior Community, Detroit. Fr. Thomas S. Ebong is an ordained priest in good standing with the Catholic Church for the past twenty-six years. He is in residence at the two clustered parishes of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Raymond Churches on the East Side of Detroit where he also ministers. He has a wide educational background and teaching experience in all tiers of education. He is CPE trained and has many years of experience in the Chaplaincy from former Mercy Hospital on the Detroit East Side to Beaumont hospital in Troy to his almost five years of Chaplaincy with the St John Health system. He is also the chaplain at St. John Senior Community.

His leadership and team experience with the support of dedicated volunteers have really given a deep pastoral and spiritual dimension to residents, family members and staff of Father Murray Nursing Center. His very presence has brought the celebration of the sacred liturgies and the Sacraments home to our seniors, family members and staff. For Fr. Tom, service at both facilities is an enriched spiritual experience and a privilege to be of service to the people in need.

Sr. Mary Conway, CSJ

Sr. Mary Conway, CSJ is a Sister of St Joseph. She lives at St Veronica Convent. She is a retired schoolteacher; and an experienced CNA to her sick and her elderly sisters at Fontbonne Manor, Nazareth, Michigan and with a rich experience in pastoral ministry. She has given years of dedicated service in the Lord's vineyard. She is a very organized and careful planner. Apart from her daily duties with routine visits to residents, she is also the anchor that coordinates local pastors, church ministers, and volunteers. She updates charts and watches out for immediate attention for those who may be in need of immediate intervention for prayer services, the sacraments or for family intervention. Her dedicated care, gentleness, spirituality and teamwork with Father Tom have really given a sacred identity to St. John Senior Community. For her ministering at St John Senior Community iis an expression of her Congregational charism of unity and reconciliation. In her words, "I feel privileged to journey in faith with so many elders in their day to day encounter with the realities of life and with the Infinite!"

Our Chapel

If you need a quiet, meditative space, or are looking for an opportunity to worship, St John Senior Community Chapel provides you with this resource as well. Our Chapel is located opposite the Rose Garden between the Gift Shop and therapy room. A prayer book is also available to those who wish to offer their prayers in writing or to request prayers.

Requests and Referrals

Residents and families of all faiths can request a visit with a Chaplain. Any member of the health team can assist with making a referral. People call on chaplains for a number of reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Overwhelming illness (change in vital signs)
• Need for anointing or administration of the Sacraments
• Fear and anxiety
• Loneliness and isolation
• Discouragement and despair
• Helplessness and hopelessness
• Loss of meaning and purpose
• Conflict with others
• Facing change and loss
• Struggling with the meaning of life
• Feeling cut off from God
• Grappling with questions about life and death
• Needing the comfort of prayer
• Decisions regarding a living will and advance directives
• Working through the loss of a loved one
• Facing ethical dilemmas