Deer Lodge’s Worship Centre perfect place for reflection

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This article was published 16/07/2003 (8265 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Worship Centre at Deer Lodge Centre is a quiet, comforting place where residents, family and staff of all faiths can stop for a little personal reflection.

“This is a space that welcomes all faiths, all traditions,” says Aubrey Hemminger, co-ordinator of spiritual care for Deer Lodge Centre. “We invite people to lead worship in their own way, to stop here and nuture their own inner selves.”

The new Worship Centre replaces a smaller, more limited space.

“We wanted a space that was larger, to accommodate people, and interdenominational by nature and design,” says Hemminger, whose predecessor, Barbara Barnett, guided the development of the new centre.

The centre, built out over the Portage Avenue facility’s day hospital, officially opened in January 2002.

It is open 24 hours a day and there are three chaplains: Hemminger, Christiane Kleiner and Glen Krentz.

The Worship Centre includes a worship table, lecturn and plants. The decor is of soft and comforting colours. For mass, a Christ figure is brought in, and other groups are invited to bring their own symbols as required.

In addition to the main room, there are also two smaller rooms. The Sprit Room is the perfect place for an aboriginal smudging, with its outside ventilation. Here, times of reflection, meditation and bible studies have also been held. The smaller Peace Room is the perfect safe haven for up to three people. In the Peace Room, staff, residents or patients might stop in for a personal quiet moment.

From September to June, the Worship Centre holds three weekly services: Sunday morning worship (interdenominational), hosted by one of the centre’s three chaplains; Thursday morning worship (interdenominational), hosted by a variety of community clergy members; and a Saturday afternoon mass hosted by Robert Polzon, the centre’s on-call Roman Catholic priest.

Volunteers bring Deer Lodge Centre residents to the Worship Centre for services, provide music, help set up for services and welcome residents. Up to 80 residents might attend the Sunday morning service.

“We also invite other faiths to use this space as they wish,” says Hemminger.

Not all events held here are of a specific religion or faith. There have also been meditation groups, a tai chi group and other gatherings that explore a wider perspective of spirituality.

“We know that to the people who come here to worship (in their own way), a personal expression of faith and spirituality is important. When they can express faith in the midst of what they are experiencing in their daily lives, they find hope and strength. I know they do,” says Hemminger.

To volunteer, call Deer Lodge Centre at 837-1301.

PHOTO LINDA VERMETTE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS