Career Center

The Mission of Saint Francis Healthcare System is to provide a ministry of healing, wellness, quality, and love inspired by our faith in Jesus Christ. The Priest provides care for the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, families, and staff. Serving the poor and sick person, we participate in meeting the health needs of the community. Pastoral Services assists the patient, family, and personnel in meeting their spiritual, social, and emotional needs during a time of illness, injury or stress and will minister to all persons regardless of their belief system. Performs duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with our mission, values/charism, and SFHS Service Standards.

• Minimum required - Degree in Theology, Ministry, Divinity, or related field. One unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (NACC or APC) or equivalent experience. PREFERRED – Masters in Theology. Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). NACC or APC Board Certified. Catholic Priest who is in good standing with diocese or religious community.
• Must register with the Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) and complete the FCSR background check. Must have current drivers license, auto insurance and reliable transportation.
• Current healthcare or military chaplaincy experience. Experience visiting the sick in a ministry capacity. Where needed language skills or experience with specific patient groups served. Has some knowledge of, sensitivity to, and respect for various religions. Knowledge in areas of pastoral theology, medical ethics, spirituality, death and dying, and crisis intervention.
• Compassion and respect the dignity of each person regardless of their culture, religious, lifestyle choices or age. Good communication and listening skills and able to be present to others. Ability to minister to the while person with an emphasis on the spiritual. Ability to be self-reflective about work. Responds with respect, graciousness, kindness and spiritual comfort. Ability to work independently in the context of a strong pastoral team and in cooperation with the interdisciplinary clinical team to provide quality services resulting in high patient satisfaction. Able to work in emotional and stressful situations. Advocates for patient, family member or co-worker when the need arises. Uses computer systems, pagers and telephone systems effectively. Ability to work in crisis and trauma situations and with multiple priorities. Able to be a self-starter, work with high degree of initiative, but also participate in teams within and beyond the department.
  Able to provide spiritual and grief care to our patients, families and staff within their own faith and personal identifies. The pastoral care counselor/bereavement services provides compassionate spiritual assessments or bereavement care plans that involve systematic and intentional follow-up of our patients and their families.
  What is needed of Roman Catholic Priest applying for role within SFHS
  1.) Responsibility of priest to request faculties with archdiocese/diocese to which he is coming (Springfield-Cape Girardeau)
  2.) For our records will we need from priest
  - A letter of good standing from his Ordinary (his local Bishop if he is a diocesan priest or his Provincial if he is in religious order)
  - A letter from Office of Youth Child Protection from the archdiocese/diocese in which he currently serves that confirms he is in compliance
  3.) Although the priest will be reaching out directly to archdiocesan/diocesan Bishop to obtain faculties, SFHS will also notify that we have the documentation described in #2