Panellists look at social services for vulnerable people through a spiritual lens

Spiritual care has an important role to play when addressing social issues such as homelessness and mental health in Winnipeg.

That was the message shared Wednesday during a panel discussion at the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope on Main Street.

The discussion was part of a half-day event titled Beyond the Physical: Spiritual Care in Community Care and Support. It was organized by the Interfaith Health Care Association of Manitoba, in partnership with the Manitoba Multifaith Council.

The goal of the event was to give people working in various community health and social service fields an opportunity to learn more about the role spiritual care can play in assisting people who experiencing homelessness, trauma, poverty and addiction.

Moderator Nick Chubenko, a retired geriatric clinician and social worker, asked panelists how spiritual care shows up in their daily work.

“It’s how we make the Centre of Hope a more welcoming place,” said Corinne Peterkin, who co-ordinates Indigenous relations at the Centre of Hope.

Peterkin, a Catholic-raised ’60s scoop survivor, has recently become more connected with her Indigenous roots. There, she said, there is no separation between emotional, mental and physical life — it’s all part of an interconnected circle, with nothing in front or behind.

Those who work with Indigenous people need to keep that in mind, Peterkin said, adding Indigenous people see spirituality in everything.

Workers also need to acknowledge the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools, she said.

“It’s important to recognize that since it is the cause behind many other issues,” she said.

Centre of Hope chaplain Randy Leavitt said spirituality isn’t necessarily expressed verbally.

“It can be seen body language, in a downcast gaze, a bowed head,” he said of his encounters with people at the centre. “It’s not always something you hear.”

Leavitt boiled down his belief about spirituality to a single sentence.

“Every human being is created in the image of God with dignity destiny and design,” he said, adding that people sometimes feel abandoned by God when they are homeless, anxious, afraid and alone.

Helping people see their worth as being created in the image of God is key to spiritual care, he said. Listening is important — not to provide an answer, but to understand and help people know they are not alone.

“That is how we give value to people,” he said. “Listening is a wonderful gift.”

Samuel Tim, also a chaplain with the Salvation Army, came to Canada from Nigeria. In some African countries, a common greeting in their native languages is “I see you.”

Sometimes providing spiritual care is just as simple as “saying you see somebody,” he said.

“It’s felt in the heart. It means you matter,” he said.

That is especially important for people on the street.

“People who are homeless can feel ashamed, hopeless, like a failure,” he said.

Being seen by someone, even if just over a cup of coffee, can help them see they are worthwhile.

Leighton Knapp directs residential programs for Eden Health Care Services.

“We can’t just address a problem without looking at all the pieces,” he said, adding that includes spirituality.

That means making sure people have the supports they need to thrive, and also helping them have a sense of internal direction.

“That makes a big difference in people’s lives — having goals and a vision,” he said.

Gladys Hrabi, CEO of the Interfaith Health Care Association of Manitoba, said spiritual care is not about religion or imposing beliefs.

“It’s about recognizing that when someone is vulnerable, (and) then questions of meaning, dignity and belonging matter. Ignoring that dimension leaves care incomplete.”

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