Continuity of Spiritual Care: Military Chapels "Arrival"

Marvelous Monday (or whatever day of the week it is you are reading this) to you! Now that you have tasted a little of our lingo and gathered the What of the what and either learned about or shivered with reminiscence of the PCS experience, let's explore what the standard for excellence in Continuity of Care can look like on....arrival.

CONTINUITY OF SPIRITUAL CARE: MILITARY CHAPELS

The Six Part Series

INTRO: What the What?

Part 1: PCS Permanent Change of Station

Part 2: Arrival

Part 3: What’s Life Teen got to do with it?

Part 4: Mission and Miracles

Part 5: Many Parts, Many Hats

Part 6: Bid Farewell, Not Goodbye

CONCLUSION: Don’t let the sun set

A message for widespread awareness of service member and military family needs from Military Chapels called:

“Continuity of Spiritual Care”

Part 2: Arrival

The stuff is on a truck (Stuff you meant to send and stuff you will be surprised to see again..."is that an APPLE CORE???"). Everything you own is in a million boxes split between the company that was contracted to take it and our POV (Personally Owned Vehicle)-"Hey come sit on this suitcase so I can close it." After having found all the mysterious hidden draws and should have been packed items you say, "Okay, well I guess we are taking THAT with us.", or if you are heading to a new home across the sea everything except what you could squeeze into your luggage is somewhere on the ocean. You have travelled, stopping along the way to see the world’s largest groundhog or having the bazillionth stale gas station coffee, and are likely well rested from sleeping the most roomy and comfortable hotel rooms. 

Okay, I know the last one is pretty far-fetched. But at least even if our mind is still all over the place with: signing in, In-Processing, TLA (Temporary Lodging Allowance), trying to be gentle while reminding the gas company that yes, you have paid the last bill and will love to re-fax them a copy of the letter with the orders and the highlight bank statement that reflects the date the payment was received, and explaining to everyone under the sun that no, we really do not have a forwarding address yet because we are technically homeless until we find a house… We can happily rest in knowing that we can open the smart phone and drop a pin on our location because we have arrived. Now what?

Well, assuming the above hasn’t entirely zombified us, and assuming that we found the Catholic Mass times and Community page to be comprehensive, up to date and correct information, we arrive on time for our first Mass. Approaching the main walk way the hospitality crew and a person or two from the congregation notice that we are new, they say, 

"Hello! Are you visiting our Parish or are you new? WELCOME!!" Nothing feels more like home than to be seen and energetically received. This means more to me than being asked to stand during the Mass. Because like one of the primary principles with Life Teen, Relational Ministry truly is entirely effective and moving. We browse the bulletin and look for our needed as well as wishlist ministries. Just a note about this...there is a circle that many are unaware of...attendance in a community demonstrates a need in numbers. However, when the need is lacking the numbers will find communities even extending to other faith denomination programs to meet their needs. Clever communities will pay attention to the WHY people are coming or not coming. Continuity of Spiritual Care for those incoming means being aware of new faces, being hospitable and kind, asking what needs they have first rather than what talents they have to offer to fill empty positions. The WELCOMING is the essential element in providing good quality spiritual care for arriving families.

We all know that the number of persons who are actively serving the congregation tends to be small. If we are honest with ourselves, we will realize a big part of that is because those that do tend to feel used up by the time they PCS and will walk into their next church depleted, tired, and burned out. It will be tough to change at first...there is that word again. But the proof will be in the pudding...people who feel supported, encouraged and cared for return the favor.

Try it on; start the experiment. Your first actionable step will be to notice three people from your community. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. The first will be someone you know well, who inspires goodness and energy in you. Tell them what you notice about their fabulousness and ask them in what ways could you serve them. Thank them for their wonderful qualities. (In all three of these people consider their responses; if what they need are things you CAN do and if so, are you WILLING to do it? If not, commit to walking with them to find someone who can serve them in their need.) The second person will be someone you might find yourself avoiding. Okay, seriously...you know there are people you would walk All.The. Way. Around. The. Church, to increase chances you would not have to look them in the eye. Consider why that might be. Change their name in your head. 

In a recent Homily, our Father Jesus Navarette told a story about two people. One a criminal and beggar and the other an empress and beloved public figure. However, their real names truly were “brother” and “a poor sinner like me” See this person you avoid and begin calling them by their name "brother" or "sister" or saying, "this person, a poor sinner like me" in your mind. Then with the power of the Holy Spirit, approach them. Share with them what you observe may be a need. Ask them, could I serve you in anyway? The last person will be someone you don’t recognize or have never spoken too. I know this is awkward and you are afraid of saying something like, “Hi! Are you new to our community?” only to have them reply, “No, I have been here 10 years and have sat behind you for as long as you have been here.” If something like that happens, embarrassing as it is...it is human! Own it! We are a mess and we come to Church in our brokenness and busyness and just like everyone else, human. We can say, “Is that right?! My goodness I have been so blind but now I See! Thank you, LORD!” and laugh heartily about it. Then ask them, for forgiveness and in what ways they could be served. Is there any need in their life right now, a small burden that could be helped?

If it is a new person, please say, “Welcome Home. We are so very glad you are here, how is the move coming along? What do you need?” Do this 1 Sunday a month minimum. Imagine if everyone did this! A family of four will have reached the entire community by Easter! (Maybe keep a small notebook so you can jot down names and numbers and things to help you remember who you spoke to….I can’t remember people’s names to save my life so this would help me so much). 

Essentially, the most important function in spiritual care for the arrival is that every person walking through the Church doors has the sense that, I AM HOME.