By Susan Gallagher

As a parish nurse, Ann Schellinger provides wellness tips, referrals to physicians and a comforting arm to lean on when it’s time for that appointment at a physician’s office. She helps people cope with losses, and for the parishioner home alone after surgery, it might be Schellinger who stops in with a “How’s it going?”

Schellinger, of Christ the King Parish in Missoula, is the parish nurse coordinator for Montana and was among 30- plus parish nurses and health ministers who gathered for a retreat with the theme “Restoring Our Souls.” The retreat May 14-16 at Christ the King gave these care providers an opportunity to coalesce following the recent cessation of the Carroll College parish nurse program, which had been a catalyst for many of them. Schellinger said she expects the retreat to take place annually, and she is seeking ways for Montana to again have educational programs for parish nurses and health ministers.

As the state coordinator, she helps guide parish-nurse outreach across religious denominations. Schellinger estimates Montana has at least 300 parish nurses, who have the R.N. credential, and health ministers, who do not. Both receive training for parish work.

Participants in the retreat joined in a healing service and heard Bruce Strade of Oregon-based Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries speak on “Compassion in Context” and “Nurturing the Gift Within.” Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries is a nonprofit that initiates, develops and supports health ministry in the Pacific Northwest. Retreat participants also heard Father Jeff Fleming, the Christ the King pastor, speak about the rhythm of life. In doing so, he referenced the Wayne Muller book “Sabbath,” subtitled “Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives.”

Parish nurses and health ministers “all work within our faith communities,” Schellinger said in a phone interview. She was a hospital intensive-care nurse for many years before she began parish nursing in 2000 at Christ the King. “All we need is for someone to say they need to be seen, and we’re there,” she said.

Most people active in parish nurse/health ministry programs serve as volunteers, and for the few who do receive pay, the sums are modest.

At Holy Spirit Parish in Butte, nurse Renee Ashby regularly conducts bloodpressure clinics and three times a year there are blood drives. Her work also includes writing health tips for the parish bulletin.

“Part of the nurse in me has always wanted to make sure that people have updated and helpful information,” said Ashby, who retired from a long nursing career this year.

Work by parish nurses may include new-mother and nursing home visitations; assistance with lifestyle changes; helping people to understand medical conditions; and setting up medication boxes. Nurses are instructed not to do anything invasive, such as starting intravenous treatments.

Schellinger said she “would love to see every faith community have a parish nurse or health minister” and is ready to help people become established in those roles. She may be reached by phone at 406-728- 3845, ext. 227, or by e-mail to parishnursing@ christthekingccm.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 7, July 16, 2010.