Thursday, 16 February 2012 14:29

Spiritual Strengths program hosted by CSJs
Two weeks after 27-year-old Kristin delivered a beautiful baby girl, she noticed a lump in her right breast. Her physician confirmed the worst, Kristin had breast cancer.
The six months of radiation and a double mastectomy did not become the emotional nightmare Kristin had anticipated. She attributes the minor miracle to her work with a spiritual director who used the Spiritual Strengths Healing Program, developed by Dr. Richard Johnson, Ph.D.
In his clinical experience, Johnson noticed that patients like Kristin subconsciously tapped into different virtues that propelled them to a new healing plane. Because of this, Kristin’s cancer experience was different than what many might imagine, she was part of the 15 percent of cancer patients who, through their faith, tap into a reservoir of healing grace that God provides.
Johnson calls these special patients “spiritually healing patients.” His insights into cancer sickness eventually identified the “secret” of the spiritually healing patients – they were using virtue to transform their cancer experience from a potential nightmare to a journey of faith formation.
The healing program is used in Spiritual Strengths Cancer Care program at the Magnificat Center, a retreat center sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph.
When she was director of the Magnificat Center, the late Sister Helene Lentz, engaged Johnson as the clinical director of Spiritual Strengths Cancer Care. The program is designed to aid persons with cancer and their caregivers to rely on their unique spiritual strengths in coming to terms with the diagnosis.
Johnson spends a week each month at the Magnificat Center organizing, training personnel, developing new materials and offering presentations to persons with cancer or other chronic illnesses, their caregivers, hospice staff, clergy, chaplains and friends.
Mary Costello, a registered nurse and program manager for the Spiritual Strengths Cancer Care program says, “We want to help persons with cancer and their caregivers make the necessary changes to activate their healing strengths and even unblock what might be preventing them from accessing the healing power of God.”
Spiritual Strengths Cancer Care is designed for anyone who has ever had a diagnosis of cancer of any type, whether that diagnosis was only given last week, a year ago, five, or even ten or more years ago. The program gives substantial focus to caregivers: spouses, adult children, friends, acquaintances, and professional caregivers, offering an entirely new view of cancer.

Want to participate?
Classes are scheduled for mid-February and mid-March. A recent grant award has made scholarship money available. Contact Mary Costello at (316) 689-4031 for details. A current schedule of offerings and additional information including a 5 minute video can be found at www.SpiritualCancerCare.org.