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Sr. Thresiakutty Chacko was sent on Mission from Mumbai Province in the Jubilee year 2000. She shares her life in the mission with us.
I was sent on mission to Missouri USA.
St. Louis is a beautiful city in the State of Missouri. The Mississippi river flows right through St. Louis. It has many beautiful parks and the Botanical gardens. The public Libraries are accessible to people. It has many Schools, Medical colleges and Universities. St. Louis is highly populated with refugees from all over, mainly from China, Vietnam, Bosnia, Rwanda, Mexico and from many other countries. Therefore it is an international and multicultural set up. The Americans are well aware of these facts and try to reach out to help these people in variou8s ways.
Right now I am working in the Pastoral ministry as a Chaplain in one of the hospitals in St. Louis, in the State of Missouri. The Hospital has 1500 beds and people of all walks of life come to hospital for medical service. It is a collaborative work of both Jewish and Christian faith. There are about 10.000 employees within three shifts from a multicultural backgrounds and groups. It has a department allotted for Spiritual care and there are 20 full time chaplains belonging to different faith groups such as Catholic and other Christian denominations, Jewish, Buddhist; two Catholic priests and two Jewish Rabbis are among them. These chaplains offer spiritual care in a holistic approach without any discrimination no matter who the patient is. Their service is well accepted by the patient, their families and friends.
 
I visit the patients in Oncology Department and in ICU in Cardiac Department. Spiritual care is also extended to the medical team. When a patient dies or is critical the family and the Staff become anxious and they go through a great degree of stress. It is at this time that a Chaplain accompanies them on their journey in a spirit of loving, compassionate and non-judgmental attitude. People go through this traumatic situation due to illness, relationships, faith crisis etc. Those moments the Chaplain offers grief facilitation, counseling and other Psycho-Spiritual support.
I enjoy being a chaplain and it is rewarding. The medical team and the Chaplains collaborate in providing care for the patients, family and also the Staff. I also extend my service as the treasurer for the common good of the community.
I live out my Franciscan Charism as I lived it in India. There are many Franciscans groups both Religious and secular. It is an International community within a country of internationality. Internationality helps me to live my FMM Charism very meaningfully, according to the words Mother Mary of the Passion, “The whole world is my homeland”.
Sr. Thresiakutty Chacko fmm
07-06-2010
My Community
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