New spiritual care director selected by Franciscan St. Francis Health

INDIANAPOLIS – The Rev. Michael E. Burns, SDS, has been appointed director of Spiritual Care Services at Franciscan St. Francis Health, effective Aug.24.

Since 2006, Father Burns has served as director of pastoral care at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus in Milwaukee, where he oversaw chaplaincy and spiritual care outreach services. The facility provides assisted living, long-term skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation and respite care for the elderly.

Father Burns has more than 25 years of experience in pastoral care. He has been an on-call chaplain at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, parish priest at Saints Peter and Paul Parish and has held other hospital chaplaincy positions in Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa.

Ordained as a priest in the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians), Father Burns earned a master’s of divinity from the Sacred Heart School of Theology and a master’s of arts in religion at the Athenaeum of Ohio. He received a bachelor’s of arts and history at the Pontifical College of Josephinum and completed clinical pastoral education training.

Father Burns is certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. 

“We are happy to have Father Burns join our Franciscan St. Francis family,” said Sister Marcene Franz, vice president of Mission Services. “He brings many years of Spiritual Care experience and management expertise. We welcome him to lead us into the future of what is most important – our mission and our spiritual direction.”