The Journey Together Walking Beside You: Spiritual Care with Chaplains
Oct 6, 2025
Father John Carroll, a long‑serving priest who helped shape Northwest Hospice, offers steady pastoral presence. Colette Furlong, a lay chaplain working across hospital and hospice, brings inclusive listening and ritual. They discuss being present without agenda, reading subtle cues, family dynamics, meaningful rituals and empowering families to care and connect in life’s final moments.
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Meet The Human Document Not The Chart
- Read the human being not just the chart: meet the person in front of you rather than relying on written notes.
- Colette cites training advice: 'Don't read the chart; go and meet the human document' to avoid dehumanising care.
Being Present Felt Like Everything To A Grieving Wife
- Simple presence can be the most meaningful action at a deathbed when nothing else can be fixed.
- Colette recounts holding a wife's shoulder, praying with her as her husband died, then later being thanked for 'standing with' the family.
Simple Blessing Became A New Family Ritual
- Rituals can transform family roles and provide fresh meaning after death.
- Colette describes asking a mother to bless each adult child with holy water, which became a powerful new family ritual and released tears and strength.