Challenges of Chaplaincy
Palos Heights, IL
Sr. Marie Joanna Hoffmann (left) ministers at Palos Community Hospital.Sister Marie Joanna Hoffmann, OP, believes that at the heart of ministry is relationship with God and with God’s presence in the living, human person. She ministers at Palos Community Hospital. “As hospital chaplain, I love the opportunities to accompany people through the challenges of hospitalization. It might be a new test, new medicine, or noisy roommate,” said Sr. Marie Joanna. “It could be shortness of breath and the thought of needing to be intubated. Maybe a surgery is trying to be avoided, or maybe surgery is needed to fix that painful shoulder or hip. Each patient deserves my attentive listening. The challenge of living is only matched by the challenge of thinking about end-of-life care.” She also serves as spiritual director at the hospital.