Priest

MorseLife Health Systems•West Palm Beach, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

MorseLife Hospice is seeking a compassionate Priest to provide spiritual and sacramental care to Catholic patients during their end-of-life journey. MorseLife Health System has been a leader in senior care in South Florida for over 40 years, known for its commitment to compassionate care, clinical excellence, innovation, and service. As a nonprofit healthcare system and a respected teaching organization, MorseLife partners with various institutions to educate future healthcare professionals. The organization is recognized as a Great Place To Work® Certified employer, a 5-Star Teaching Nursing Home, and a recipient of the Gold Seal Award. MorseLife offers a comprehensive continuum of care and is driven by a mission to enrich the lives of older adults.

Requirements

Catholic Priest in good standing and authorized to provide Catholic sacramental ministry is required.
Ordination to the priesthood and appropriate standing within the Catholic Church.
Demonstrated experience providing pastoral or sacramental care to individuals who are seriously ill, dying, or grieving.
Understanding of Catholic teachings, sacramental practices, and pastoral traditions related to serious illness and end of life.
Strong interpersonal, communication, listening, and pastoral care skills.
Compassionate, approachable, and comfortable working with patients and families from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary hospice team.
Ability and willingness to provide on-call coverage throughout Palm Beach County.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
A 10-panel pre-employment drug screening.
A Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
A post-offer physical examination.
A QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test (or other approved tuberculosis screening, as applicable.
Employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) and any additional pre-employment requirements applicable to the position.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in hospice, palliative care, hospital ministry, parish ministry, or healthcare chaplaincy.
Experience working with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Familiarity with Catholic healthcare and community resources in Palm Beach County.
Experience supporting families through grief, loss, and bereavement.
Strong relationships with local Catholic parishes, clergy, and community organizations.

Responsibilities

Respond to requests from Catholic patients and families for Last Rites/Anointing of the Sick and other appropriate Catholic sacramental support.
Provide Holy Communion, prayer, blessings, Scripture, and other appropriate spiritual support to Catholic patients.
Provide compassionate pastoral presence and spiritual support to patients and families experiencing the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges associated with the dying process and end-of-life care, while respecting their beliefs, traditions, wishes, and dignity.
Support patients and families in identifying and addressing spiritual concerns, questions, fears, hopes, and needs.
Coordinate, when appropriate, with a patient's parish priest or other Catholic clergy to support continuity of pastoral and sacramental care.
Serve as an on-call Catholic Priest for hospice patients throughout Palm Beach County.
Maintain reasonable flexibility to accommodate patient and family needs, including time-sensitive end-of-life requests.
Communicate appropriately with the hospice team regarding visits, patient needs, and follow-up recommendations.
When clinically and spiritually indicated, provide periodic pastoral visits, potentially approximately once per month, to offer continued spiritual support to Catholic patients.
Establish meaningful relationships with patients and families while maintaining appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries.
Serve as an ongoing Catholic spiritual resource for patients who desire continued sacramental or pastoral connection.
Collaborate with the Psychospiritual Team to support the spiritual and existential needs of Catholic patients.
Work collaboratively with the Bereavement Department to support families before and following the death of a loved one.
Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration, as appropriate, to promote comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Serve as a Catholic subject-matter resource to hospice staff regarding Catholic sacramental practices, traditions, and end-of-life spiritual needs.
Provide guidance to hospice staff regarding when and how Catholic patients may benefit from sacramental or pastoral intervention.
Participate, as available and appropriate, in community outreach and educational activities designed to increase awareness of hospice services.
Develop and maintain relationships with Catholic parishes, diocesan organizations, Catholic healthcare and community organizations, and other faith-based resources throughout Palm Beach County.
Serve as an ambassador for the hospice's commitment to providing compassionate spiritual care to Catholic patients and families.
Educate community partners and clergy about the availability of hospice services and the spiritual care resources offered to Catholic patients.
Perform all other duties as assigned.