INDIANAPOLIS
– Marilyn Williams, BCC, has been appointed director of Spiritual Care at
Franciscan St. Francis Health.
Williams
joined St. Francis Health this month from St. Mary’s Health in Evansville,
where she served as director of pastoral care for three years. She previously
served as a chaplain for a Catholic hospital in Tennessee and completed her
Clinical Professional Education (chaplaincy training) in Omaha, Neb.
Prior to
becoming a chaplain she worked in cancer research and healthcare
management. In one of her roles she was involved in the development of a
curriculum in integrative and holistic medicine for physicians.
Williams said
her calling to pastoral care was a natural extension of her spiritual journey.
“One thing I
love is hearing the stories people have,” Williams said. “It’s such a privilege
as chaplain to have the opportunity to not only hear the stories but also be
with people in a special way in their most vulnerable times of life – illness,
dying, birth – just to be a service and show the love and compassion of Christ
in those times.”
Williams has
a master’s in theological studies from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., a
master of science in hospital and health services administration from the
University of Alabama at Birmingham, and is board certified by The National
Association of Catholic Chaplains.
She is an
oblate for Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Ala.. Oblates are Christian
individuals who have associated themselves with a Benedictine community in
order to enrich their Christian way of life. Oblates seek God and shape their
lives by following, as permitted by their station or lifestyle within the world, the
Rule of St. Benedict for the monastic way of life based on the Christian
scriptures.
“We are very
happy to have Marilyn Williams join our St. Francis family,” said Sister
Marlene Shapley, vice president of Mission Services. “She comes with many years
of Spiritual Care experience and management expertise. We welcome Marilyn to
lead us into the future of what is most important—Mission and our Spiritual
direction.”
