Our virtual Spirituality of Work Feast Day was held on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. We reflected upon how our value of Compassion connects us to a united purpose in service to our communities and one another.
As a community of CommonSpirit Health national employees, we advance our timeless mission by supporting those who deliver outstanding patient care or by providing other vital expertise so we meet our ministry’s goals. We all matter and are bound by a sacred purpose — whether we work within a hospital, from an office building or in our homes.
During this feast day we:
Considered how our value of Compassion is fundamental to the purpose of CommonSpirit.
Learned from leaders about how each came to understand their purpose in the ministry.
Identified ways that a focus on well-being can help employees contribute to our ministry and the world with a sense of purpose.
Our feast day celebration featured our Chief Technology Officer Daniel Barchi, Chief Mission Officer Tom Kopfensteiner, System Vice President of Spiritual Care LaVera Crawley, System Senior Vice President of Transformation, Innovation, and Operations Jane Weldon, and System Director of Well-Being and Benefits Engagement Melissa Reeves.
Spirituality of Work Feast Day Video
Please note: in order to view the video and resources, users must be logged in to a CommonSpirit Health Google Chrome profile.
Past Feast Days and Mission Events
Our virtual Working for the Common Good Feast Day was held on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. We reflected upon how our value of Integrity calls us to be true to who we say we are – a ministry that advances the common good.
As CommonSpirit Health, we not only care for people in our facilities, but also in communities – nearby and around the world. During this feast day we:
- Learned how some of our community programs make a difference in the lives of our neighbors;
- Considered the importance of reaching beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics to support people where they are; and,
- Discussed how our commitment to care for the whole person – and for all people – advances social justice and Catholic health care.
This feast day celebration featured our CEO Wright Lassiter III, Chief Mission Officer Tom Kopfensteiner, System Vice President for Mission Integration Corinne Francis and leaders of some of our community health programs.
Working for the Common Good Feast Day Video
Huddle Reflection
Blessing
Please note: in order to view the video and resources, users must be logged in to a CommonSpirit Health Google Chrome profile.
Thank you to everyone who attended the CommonSpirit Health Spirituality of System Office Hope for the Holidays virtual events! Our celebration this year featured five different virtual programs, each up to 60 minutes in length. This years’ series of events enabled us to to celebrate the holidays, enjoy time with system office colleagues, and learn something new.
This page contains the recorded sessions for each of the events as well as any supporting resources that were provided.
Happy Holidays from all of us at CommonSpirit Health!
A Christmas Greeting from CommonSpirit Health
Enjoy and reflect upon a Christmas message from Tom Kopfensteiner, STD, our Chief Mission Officer. Read more
Friday, Dec. 9: Advent Prayer Service
We begin our holiday celebrations with an Advent Prayer Service. In the Christian tradition, Advent is regarded as a season of hope. Now, more than ever, each of us could use some hope that tomorrow will be a little better, a little easier, and filled with peace and joy.
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Festive Floral Arranging
If you would like to create a beautiful new decoration for the holidays (for yourself or someone else), this is the session for you. Julie Winje of Inspired Designs will show us how to create lovely decorative garlands, on point with the latest in festive design trends. You’ll need some supplies that you can find online, in craft stores or even in your own backyard.
Wednesday, Dec. 14: Exploring Religious and Cultural Celebrations
A look at religions and cultural celebrations will explore a few of the many faith and societal holidays and celebrations held in and around the month of December. You’ll leave with a fuller understanding of the meaning and significant customs of celebrations our colleagues and patients may participate in. Join us with your curiosity and questions as we touch on the rich diversity of our traditions.
Helpful Resources from This Session:
Thursday, Dec. 15: Navigating Holiday Stressors
We’re here to help with learnings, encouragement and tips to help make the coming weeks less stressful and fulfilling as possible.
Friday, Dec. 16: Yoga for Zoom Users
No yoga experience is necessary to participate in this gentle chair yoga session for anyone who spends lots of time sitting at a computer. Registered Yoga Teacher Denise Hess will lead us through a guided breathing and restorative stretching sequence to help you feel a little more energy and a little less tension in your day. You’ll need comfortable clothing, a chair (with a seat cushion and without wheels or arms, if possible), and a quiet space big enough to stretch your arms out to your sides.
Helpful resources from this session:
SPIRITUALITY OF WORK FEAST DAY EXPLORING
WHAT'S YOUR WHY
During this feast day, held each September, we came together to celebrate the meaning we find in our work, the gratitude we feel for our gifts and talents, and the connection that the stories of our why have to our value of Excellence.
Together, we considered our whys: why we work in health care, why our daily work aligns with our personal values, why we choose to stay with CommonSpirit, and more.
SPIRITUALITY OF WORK FEAST DAY VIDEO
SPIRITUALITY OF WORK FEAST DAY RESOURCES
Thought Starter Guide
Huddle Prayer
Blessing for Work
Please note that in order to view the resources, a CommonSpirit login is required.
Values Gmail E-Cards
At CommonSpirit Health, we work every day to create a world that celebrates diversity and is inclusive. Where people of all backgrounds feel heard, valued and respected—at work and in the community.
Our Working for the Common Good Feast Day discussed the importance of inclusivity in our everyday lives. This virtual event, held on February 1, 2022 featured guest speaker Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman Emeritus of the National Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Roslyn has dedicated her career to improving equity and opportunity for all and is a widely honored social justice change agent with deep experience in health care.
Our celebration was hosted by CommonSpirit Chief Mission Officer Tom Kopfensteiner and included a message from our CEO Lloyd H. Dean and remarks from Rosalyn Carpenter, our Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact Officer.
2022 WORKING FOR THE COMMON GOOD FEAST DAY VIDEO
Please note that in order to view the video, a CommonSpirit login is required. If you are having trouble accessing the video, try clicking here.
2022 WORKING FOR THE COMMON GOOD FEAST DAY RESOURCES
Huddle Reflection on Inclusion
Digital Thank You Cards
Printed Thank You Cards and Bookmarks
Thank you to everyone who attended the CommonSpirit Health Spirituality of System Office Home for Hope virtual events! Our celebration this year featured five different virtual programs, each up to 60 minutes in length. This years’ series of events enabled us to to celebrate the holidays, enjoy time with system office colleagues, and learn something new.
This page contains the recorded sessions for each of the events as well as any supporting resources that were provided.
Happy Holidays from all of us at CommonSpirit Health!
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Advent Prayer Service
We began our holiday celebrations with an Advent Prayer Service. In the Christian tradition, Advent is regarded as a season of hope. Now, more than ever, each of us could use some hope that tomorrow will be a little better, a little easier, and filled with peace and joy. Rev. Tom Harshman, our System Vice President for Pastoral Spiritual Care, led this prayer service.
Wednesday, Dec. 8: Gentle Yoga for Desk Workers and Zoom Users
No yoga experience was necessary to participate in this gentle chair yoga session for anyone who spends lots of time sitting at a computer. Registered Yoga Teacher Denise Hess led us through a guided breathing and restorative stretching sequence to help participants feel a little more energy and a little less tension in their day. Participants needed comfortable clothing, a chair (with a seat cushion and without wheels or arms, if possible), and a quiet space big enough to stretch their arms out to their sides.
Helpful resources from this session:
Thursday, Dec. 9: Coping with the Holiday Blues
The holidays may not always be filled with joy for everyone. For some, grief or disappointment arises at this time of year. We’re here to help with learnings, encouragement and tips to help make the coming weeks as comfortable and fulfilling as possible. We learned, shared and supported one another as we cope with what may trouble us this holiday season.
Friday, Dec. 10: Festive Floral Arranging Workshop
If you would like to create a beautiful new decoration for the holidays (for yourself or someone else), this is the session for you. Julie Winje of Inspired Designs showed us how to create a lovely floral centerpiece for our holiday tables, on point with the latest in festive design trends. You’ll need some supplies that you can find online, in craft stores, or even in your own backyard.
Helpful resources from this session:
Monday, Dec. 13: Exploring Religious and Cultural Celebrations
A look at religions and cultural celebrations explored a few of the many faith and societal holidays and celebrations held in and around the month of December. Participants left with a fuller understanding of the meaning and significant customs of celebrations our colleagues and patients may participate in. Participants engaged their curiosity and questions as we touch on the rich diversity of our traditions.
A Christmas Greeting from CommonSpirit Health
Enjoy and reflect upon a Christmas message from Tom Kopfensteiner, STD, our Chief Mission Officer. Read More
Thank you to everyone who attended the CommonSpirit Health Spirituality of Work Feast Day. We hope you enjoyed our time together with Tom Kopfensteiner, Chief Mission Officer, Shawn Achor, our guest speaker, and Allen Sanchez, President of CHI St. Joseph’s Children.
In keeping with our theme of Creating Big Potential Together and our value of collaboration, we’re pleased to make available digital thank you cards that you can place into a Gmail message and send to team members or colleagues. This fact sheet has instructions on how to download and use the e-cards. Please note that national employees should use the CommonSpirit version of the e-cards.
Our annual Working for the Common Good Feast Day features a thoughtful conversation about social justice and health care. This reflective event strengthens our understanding of these issues as we serve the common good. This feast day recognizes the second anniversary of coming together as CommonSpirit Health on Feb. 1, and the annual World Day of Healing on Feb. 11.
“Investing resources in the care and assistance of the sick is a priority linked to the fundamental principle that health is a primary common good.”–Pope Francis
Working for the Common Good Feast Day 2021 Video
Working for the Common Good Feast Day 2021 Downloads
Program
Reflection
Bookmark
Message from Pope Francis
The fun and fellowship of Hope for the Holidays for CommonSpirit Health system offices was held December 7 through 11, 2020. This virtual event enabled us to to celebrate the holidays, enjoy time with system office colleagues, and learn something new.
This page contains the recorded sessions for each of the events as well as any supporting resources that were provided.
Happy Holidays from all of us at CommonSpirit Health!
Monday, Dec. 7: Advent Prayer Service
Hope for the Holidays begins with an Advent Prayer Service. In the Christian tradition, Advent is regarded as a season of hope. Now more than ever, each of us could use some hope that tomorrow will be a little better, a little easier, and filled with peace and joy. Our Chief Mission Officer, Tom Kopfensteiner, will lead this prayer service, joined by some other senior leaders of CommonSpirit.
Tuesday, Dec. 8: Gentle Yoga for Desk Workers and Zoom Users
No yoga experience is necessary to participate in this gentle chair yoga session for anyone who spends lots of time sitting at a computer. Registered Yoga Teacher Denise Hess will lead us through a guided breathing and restorative stretching sequence to help you feel a little more energy and a little less tension in your day. You’ll need comfortable clothing, a chair (with a seat cushion and without wheels or arms, if possible), and a quiet space big enough to stretch your arms out to your sides.
Wednesday, Dec. 9: Healthy Holidays with Hank the Health Hero and Friends
Hank the Health Hero is a puppet who works with CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health in Lancaster, PA, one of CommonSpirit’s Community Health Services Organizations. Hank’s appetite for adventure inspires kids and adults to join his epic quests to make healthy choices. He’ll share advice for being happy, healthy and connected during this unusual – but still magical – holiday season. Please ask any children you live with to join you for this special event.
Thursday, Dec. 10: A Look at Religious and Cultural Celebrations
A look at religions and cultural celebrations will explore a few of the many faith and societal holidays and celebrations held in and around the month of December. Through an interview-style Zoom call, we’ll come to more fully understand the meaning and significant customs of celebrations our colleagues and patients may participate in, with a focus on hope and light. Join us with your curiosity and questions as we touch on the rich diversity of our traditions.
Friday, Dec. 11: Festive Wreath Making Workshop
If you would like to create a beautiful new decoration for the holidays (for yourself or someone else), this is the session for you. Julie Winje of Inspired Designs will show us how to create a lovely wreath on a wire hoop frame, on point with the latest in festive design trends.
You’ll need some supplies that you can find online, in craft stores, or even in your own backyard: see them here.
The Festive Wreath – a look at the culture, origins, symbolism and common characteristics of wreaths.
It’s the season of Thanksgiving and a time for gratitude. We’re grateful for you, our CommonSpirit Health colleagues. While we all hope to be with people we love during this holiday season, some of us will probably need to connect virtually with family and friends. If that’s your situation, we would like to offer you some resources.
First, we have a brief guide with some tips for holding a virtual holiday gathering with your family and friends. All of you have experience with Zoom, and perhaps with other virtual meeting platforms, too. But these tips might help you plan a virtual gathering with family or friends who are not as experienced as you are.
Click the image below to download.
Second, we’d like to share with you the CommonSpirit Health Thanksgiving Message. It’s a thoughtful reflection on this unusual Thanksgiving. This message is also being shared with all CommonSpirit employees this week through our Insights newsletter – but we just want to make sure that all of you have access to it. You might like to share it at your own gathering.
Click the image below to download.
Celebrating Our Spirituality of Work Feast Day
Our feast days are special times when we can connect with colleagues, celebrate, reflect and be inspired.
Spirituality of Work, celebrated each September, is the second of our two annual feast days. We celebrated the first, Working for the Common Good, in February 2020; it recognizes the anniversary of CommonSpirit and the World Day of Healing.
Our Spirituality of Work Feast Day is held near Labor Day to celebrate the spirituality found in our workplace, the meaning we find in our work, and our gratitude for the gifts and talents we bring to our daily tasks.
Click here to download the: Spirituality of Work Feast Day 2020 Bookmark
Spirituality of Work Feast Day Video: