The Faith Community Nursing Interest Group
- as an interest group of RNAO, to actively support the initiatives of RNAO
- to provide a forum for communication and exchange of ideas
- to promote awareness of the roles of parish nurses and to serve as liaison with RNAO, CNA and other groups in promoting certification of parish nurses
- to provide professional support for parish nurses
- to encourage the formation of liaison groups throughout Ontario
- to support implementation of standards of practice for parish nursing
- to encourage participation of parish nurses in education and research
- to ascertain the feasibility of the FCNIG being a corporate group member in the Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Ministry
Research Bursary to Study Research in Parish Nursing
Hello Members!
The Canadian Association of Parish Nursing Ministry (CAPNM) has a $500 Research Bursary to study research in Parish Nursing. A parish nurse is a registered nurse with specialized knowledge who is called to ministry and affirmed by a faith community to promote health, healing and wholeness.
Details about the bursary are available on the CAPNM website: capnm.ca/research
Application forms (French and English) are on the website and may be submitted at any time. Potential applicants are encouraged to reach out to members of the Research Committee to explore ideas about potential research projects by contacting the CAPNM Secretary. Applicants may complete the application form and send to the CAPNM Secretary: capnm.secretary@gmail.com.
FCNIG Exec
Registration Open for Foundations in Parish Nursing Online Courses!!
Foundations in Parish Nursing has partnered with Dayton University to offer courses regarding wholistic and spiritual health as part of the ecumenical certificate in parish nursing program. They are available and appropriate for any nurse in various nursing communities who are looking for personal and professional development. Here is your opportunity to sign up.
The content is Canadian based and is current and relevant to nursing practice. Facilitation is done by the leadership team at Foundations in Parish Nursing. The courses are $105.00 USD each plus a $25 affiliation paid to St Peter’s Seminary.
5-week Online Courses:
1. “The Parish Nurse as Counsellor and Spiritual Companion”-Runs from March 10-April 13, 2025. Registration is currently open until March 6, 2025!! See attached flyers for outline of topics and details to register.
Register here by filling out and sending form:
Once you submit the form, visit https://vlcff.udayton.edu/ to register for the course.
2. “Parish Nursing: Facilitating Wholistic Health Through the Lifespan” Runs October 27-November 30, 2025. Registration opens September 10th 2025. See attached flyers for outline of topics and details to register.
1-week Online Course:
“Summer Intensive Foundations in Parish Nursing”. Runs June 15-21, 2025 This learning program uses the zoom platform. This program is for nurses who are interested in pursuing a certificate in parish nursing as well as for those interested in engaging with fellow faith-based nurses to explore the concept of health ministry, wholistic care, learn about parish nurse ministry and to deepen their own spiritual formation related to health and faith. Registration is open for this course with details to email for more information and to receive an application form. See attached flyers for outline of topics and details to register.
For more info, contact:
Louise Trapp
Program Coordinator
Foundations in Parish Nursing
St Peter’s Seminary
London, ON
Handout-A Spirituality of Caregiving-Henri Nouwen
From our last AGM on January 18, 2025, please find attached the handout from Michelle O-Rourke's presentation.
Re cap:
Michelle O’Rourke RN MA- background in Emergency Nursing, Hospice Palliative Care, Parish Nursing and Spirituality. Two of her books, Befriending Death: Henri Nouwen and a Spirituality of Dying, and Healthy Caregiving, Perspectives for Caring Professionals in Company with Henri J.M. Nouwen, reflect her interest in the work of renowned spiritual writer, Henri J.M. Nouwen.
One of the most influential spiritual writers of our time was Henri J.M. Nouwen. (1932 to 1996). Henri taught in prestigious divinity schools at Yale and Harvard, but spent the last 10 years of his life as a pastor and caregiver at L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Join us as we explore elements of Henri’s life and work, including his writings in the areas of care, compassion, presence, being a wounded healer, and more. Let Henri’s wisdom guide us to rediscover the essence of how we are called to care for others as well as ourselves.
Michelle helped to develop the Foundations in Parish Nursing Course offered through St. Peter’s Seminary, serving as Coordinator until 2016, and was a former executive member of the Parish Nurse Interest Group for RNAO. A highlight in her career was helping to design, build and open the 10-bed Chatham-Kent Hospice. Michelle enjoys speaking and inspiring others, and serves on the board of the Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association and the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust.
For more info visit www.selahresources.ca
Take Good Care
FCNIG Exec
Are you a faith community nurse in the Lutheran Church?
Are you a faith community nurse in the Lutheran Church? If you are interested in connecting with the Lutheran Faith Community Nursing Association, please contact Phyllis Bruce pbceilidhdancer10@gmail.com
Information about the association can be found at https://lutheranfcna.org
FCNIG's 2023 Executive Team
President/Chair: Ola Babalola
President-elect: Vacant
Past-President: Anne-Marie Mohler
Finance Executive Network Officer: May Tao
Membership Executive Network Officer: Lily Cugliari-Kobayashi
Communication Executive Network Officer: Michelle Solomon
Social Media Executive Network Officer: Maria Lippa
Policy and Political Action Executive Network Officer: Dot Klein
Student Executive Network Officer: Khalila Campbell- Fagan
Region 6, Toronto West: Lily Cugliari-Kobayashi, Maria Lippa
Region 7, Toronto East: May Tao
Region 8, Durham: Ola Babalola, Michelle Solomon
Region 9, Jeanne Lambert
Region 11, Sudbury: Dot Klein
Regions 1-5,10, and 12 are vacant.
Which region do you live in? Find your local chapter and connect with our execs! We'd love to hear from you!
Vacancies: We are seeking a policy and political action exec for the 2023/2024 term. Please contact us for more information.
Inside this issue:
- President's Message
- What I have done for nursing in the first 60 years.
- Why am I a Nightingale?
- Reflection on Toward a Translational Epidemiology of Religion: Challenges and Applications by Dr. Jeff Lewin
- Reflection on the FCNIG Educational Day
- RNFOO Award
- Resources & Inspirations
Last Updated: March 28th, 2025