Healthcare is a fundamental component of improving life for any of us. Claretians have helped to start numerous medical clinics and arrange for medical services through their various ministries. Still, the Claretians’ commitment to healthcare is not as a provider, but as a conduit of resources to inform and guide people to better healthcare for themselves and their families.
As part of their ministry, Claretians routinely visit the sick. Some Claretians have specifically chosen the critical service of hospital chaplaincy as their primary ministry and others have devoted themselves to caring for our senior members.
Spiritual and Psychological Counseling
Claret Center is a Claretian sponsored ministry located in Hyde Park (Chicago), Illinois that provides spiritual direction, psychological counseling, wellness workshops, and retreats. The center was founded in 1979 to address the needs of religious formation communities, as well as the short supply of trained Spiritual Directors in sound psychological principles and of professional psychotherapists. The center focuses on spiritual accompaniment regardless of religious denomination and psychological services for adults and children. The center also provides group supervision in spiritual direction for formation and vocation ministry personnel across a variety of religious communities.
Affordable Housing
Villa Guadalupe is a senior housing development of the Claretians located on the south side of Chicago in a high-poverty community. This neighborhood is also the location of the Claretian parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe. The mission is to enhance the quality of life of local seniors by providing affordable housing and support services within a secure environment. The staff offers a path of access for the seniors to healthcare referrals, case management advisors, access to treatment, and follow-up on health regimens. The Villa has been in operation for more than 20 years and has had the added benefit of helping to stabilize a changing community.
Hospital Chaplaincy
Our Hospital Chaplains are present with patients and sensitive to the needs of doctors, nurses, and extended medical staff, while also offering religious services and sacraments to those in need. Claretian Chaplains comfort families in their time of greatest need and see that no one dies alone without spiritual support and compassion. They also share in the joys of recovery and healing. In the past, some Claretians have served in military medical centers where they faced unique ministry challenges in helping service members and their families cope with injury and loss.
Caring for Senior Claretians
Claretians who care for our senior members provide an invaluable service of fraternal accompaniment. Working with professional caregivers, they plan outings and in-house activities, including exercise, concerts, social functions, and informative visits from outside speakers.