Our Woman of the Week is Nikki Stournaras, nominated for the way she fills her role—at age 75–as a hospice chaplain, caring for people at the end of their lives. We asked her to tell you how she switched careers to begin her ministry:
“Hospice is a holistic approach to minister to the sick and dying. The work is done by a team: the clinician, case manager nurse, social worker, chaplain, and aide. The team meets every two weeks to discuss each patient and each member of the team documents their plan of care and updates the team on any new developments in the patient’s progress. I will share with you my role as a hospice chaplain and where it began in my early life.
“From the age of 4 or 5, I had a heart to console and comfort the sick. I vividly remember visiting my mother’s friend “Dora,”whose mother had been bedridden by a stroke. They would put me on the bed with her and I would feed her and make her smile. Most children would rather be outside playing with other friends, but my joy was to be with the sick and help them.
“Years later, I became a candy striper at Newton Wellesley Hospital, and I would spend the early part of Thanksgiving and Christmas with patients who were lonely. Life moved on and my dearest friend Dorothea’s husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1982. We prayed and fasted for his recovery, especially the days he had chemo. Dorothea and I would sit and read from the Psalter and he became so peaceful as he neared the end.
“Later, when I was a volunteer at my children’s school, I revamped the library and put it in a card catalog system, and was offered the job of librarian (I had training from the Natick library and Hellenic College Holy Cross library). During that time, my mom needed to go into hospice. My first impression of the nurse and the aides was that they were angels sent from above, they were so kind and caring. When the chaplain would come, we read scripture together and prayed together–and he told me how he had become a hospice chaplain, and said that he saw in me a calling as a hospice chaplain.
“Not long after, my own pastor suggested that I take Clinical Pastoral Education, a prerequisite for chaplaincy. Something resonated in me and I thought Yes, that’s what I will do. I was working in academic administration, and was being mentored by a wonderful nun, Sister Mary, who was virtually a spiritual director (although she would never have called herself a spiritual director). I learned so much from her; she nurtured my soul, and it broke my heart when she died. I still use her rosary beads.
“So in 2016, I left my administrative job at the seminary, applied for a CPE program, and was accepted into St. Vincent’s program in Worcester, Massachusetts. I spent four years in CPE. I loved the courses, being with the patients and the classroom part. On March 15, 2017, I took a personal day to make my own personal retreat (it was clean Monday in my Orthodox tradition, the first day of lent). That day I received a call that my mother’s hospice chaplain had recommended me for the job I currently hold, and I was hired immediately, at West River Hospice. The team that I work with today are some of the same wonderful people who ministered to my mother over 11 years ago.”
Axia!
Nikki Stournaras is our Woman of the Week, nominated for her work as a hospice chaplain. You see her here with her beloved mentor, Lily Macrakis. We asked her what inspires her to continue her ministry:
“The Parable of the Good Samaritan is my model. When I approach scripture, I look at, What is the text saying? Is there a lesson for me? Is there a new commandment for me to obey? Is there an example for me to follow? Is there a new understanding of Jesus in this passage? What is the text saying to me right where I am now? What am I drawn to here? I also look at the icon of the event. As I sit and write this, I have the icon of the parable of the Good Samaritan in front of me. What do I see in the icon that maybe I didn’t capture in the text, what do I hear, what touches my senses?
“I am sure you’re familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus asks, ‘Who seems to be the neighbor of the one who fell among the robbers?’ ‘The one who rendered mercy,’ and he said, ‘Go and do likewise.’
“I see the person most in need as my neighbor. Mercy and compassion are the two virtues called for in being a chaplain, and the gospel passage of the Good Samaritan moves, motivates, and inspires me to carry on this work. The example for me to follow is the mercy and compassion of the Samaritan. The commandment for me to obey is to love my neighbor. In ministry the chaplain is bringing Christ to a hurting world. Chaplains spend much of the time listening to life stories, hurts, and victories. A chaplain helps the patient and family make sense of their stories and helps the troubled souls to discover meaning and purpose to their lives.
“My patients and their families are my best teachers, and they bless me every day. Scripture has taught me how to live out my vocation as a chaplain. This of course can only be done with the presence of Christ as the initiator. I can only say Glory to God for all things. It’s not always easy but when you are keeping in your mind that each patient is made in the image of God, and when you are helping this person you are doing it to Christ, it makes all things possible.
“As a healing preparation before I start a shift, I read in Luke’s Gospel the story of the Good Samaritan. I pray ‘Lord, God, I give you thanks for the gifts and the graces to go out and minister to your precious people, and that I can see my coworkers as part of a team of healers. Today, I am called once again, and I ask for your blessing. As I look into their eyes, I see them made in your image and after your likeness, I ask for the grace to comfort all those and I ask you Lord to be my side today.’”
As usual, we asked our Woman of the Week, Nikki Stournaras, about her morning routine (she has also shared her prayer corner with you):
“For at least 20 minutes, I pray the Jesus Prayer. I call it my moments of silence. I spend 20 minutes in scripture (usually the Gospel reading of the day) using an ancient practice called Lectio Divina. I also spend 20 minutes reading a spiritual book (maybe less depending on my schedule). After my reading I read the Gospel of Luke the Good Samaritan and recite my prayer for work. Sometimes I do at the beginning of the day something that I also try to do at the end of every day, which is to examine my day with God, which means I give thanks to the Holy Spirit and think through my work day and see where God is inviting me to pray for more patience and humility. I look for the day to come in prayer.
“What also helps me and feeds me most are Holy Communion and short, constant bits of recollection and prayer. This is the impetus that forges me ahead in ministry.”
Thank you, Nikki!
