Fr. Chris Cleary to address needs of the caregiver in Nov. 8 Retreat for Health Care Professionals.

Submitted by Kathy Colello, Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center

Fr. Chris Cleary. Submitted photo.

Are you a nurse or other health care professional whose job it is to take care of people? Professional caregivers are special individuals who give of themselves selflessly, but who gives to them?  How are they nurtured and sustained?  How do they manage the stress, worry, and flat-out exhaustion to which their challenging roles so often give rise?

Fr. Chris Cleary, a Passionist priest and former cardiac intensive care nurse, will explore the delicate balance between caring for yourself and caring for others in a daylong retreat for health care professionals titled “Care for the Caregiver:  A Day of Spiritual and Physical Renewal.” The retreat takes place on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford.

“I’m hoping this will be a small oasis for health care providers, a place where they can be nurtured,” said Fr. Chris. “We’ll look at how they can cultivate resilience amid the many challenges they face, and we’ll examine practices that will enable them to serve others in a way that is spiritually sustainable and life-giving.”

In additional to his nursing experience, Fr. Chris has worked in retreat ministry, spiritual direction, training in religious formation, and youth ministry.  He holds a B.S. in nursing from Widener College and a Master in Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union.

The retreat will include inspirational talks, dialogue, yoga, and free time to rest. Healing arts therapies will be available at an additional cost. The offering to attend is $65 and includes lunch. Holy Family Retreat Center is located at 303 Tunxis Road in West Hartford.  For more information and to register, call 860-760-9705 or visit www.holyfamilyretreat.org