During this season of back to school, let me remind you what a chaplain is and how to reach one!

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is also referred to as “spiritual care.” Chaplains care for all people, respecting their diverse cultures, identities, abilities, and religious beliefs. As unique members of the health care team, chaplains offer spiritual and emotional support, prayer, and pastoral counseling for patients and families. They are available to people of all faiths and those not connected to an organized religion.

Requesting Chaplaincy Services

A hospital chaplain is typically available in the hospital Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hospital staff can call the chaplain directly or contact them through the operators. For help in an emergency or outside regular business hours, please talk to a staff member, and he or she will make the request through the operators for you.

Meet Your Chaplains

Fr. Paul Luniw is one of our per diem chaplains. He was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. He graduated Halifax School of Nursing and became a SRN (state registered nurse). He worked at the Royal Halifax Infirmary, Halifax General Hospital and Northowram Hospitals, England, in all fields in the hospital. In Rome he was ordained a priest at St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Seminary and received his Ph.D. in canon law. He is the parish priest at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Terryville.

The Rev. Dianne Sullivan is one of our per diem chaplains. She is an ordained priest in the American Ecumenical Church. She was consecrated Bishop in 2016, a role that she continues to grow into. She worked as a hospice chaplain for five years where she has supervised other chaplains and run bereavement groups in the past. Dianne has been a Marriage and Family Therapist for many years. She is married with three children and two grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 16 months old!

The Rev. Carol Whyte-Pusey is one of our per diem chaplains and an ordained minister. She was born in Jamacia, where she worked as a police officer. She was also a school safety officer in Hartford public schools. She also has an extensive health care background. Before becoming a chaplain, she worked as an emergency department technician, a CNA, an LPN, and a phlebotomist. She has human services bachelor’s degree from Springfield College and a master of divinity from Liberty University.

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Warriner is our full-time chaplain. Before going to seminary, he received a BS in physics and astronomy. After receiving his master of divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, he worked as a hospice chaplain for eight years. He recently finished his doctor of ministry degree and has been with UConn Health for over three years. He has been married for 16 years. He enjoys reading, building Legos, making fire pits in the yard, sending memes, and playing baseball with his 13-year-old son.

You can reach me at dwarriner@uchc.edu, 860-679-3230, or even through Voalte.

—Rev. Daniel D. Warriner, UConn Health Chaplain

To build an inclusive culture is to build a culture that supports diversity of thought, of data, and of teams. It means valuing what others bring to the table. Have you ever wondered how religion and spirituality factor into this value at UConn Health?

A hospital chaplain offers spiritual care to patients and their families, as well as to staff. Chaplains in hospitals use the insights and principles of psychology, spirituality, religion, and theology. No one can represent every faith tradition, but chaplains become familiar with beliefs across various religions and cultures. Our chaplains have their own specific religious traditions but are available to support and encourage people of all religious faiths in various ways. We aim to support diversity, equity, and inclusion through offering support for success for people of all backgrounds.

There are many ways this is practiced at UConn Health. Last month many Protestant and Catholic Christians celebrated Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Ashes were available from some of our chaplains in the chapel, and upon request for anyone who celebrated this holiday in this way.

Another faith-specific practice is the Muslim prayer time. This occurs Fridays at noon in the chapel. This group meets weekly for prayer. Knowing that Ramadan is approaching, I am sure this sacred prayer time will be a valuable resource.

If a patient requests a visit from local clergy, our chaplains coordinate with local religious groups to arrange support. This includes calling local churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques for specific requests for support.

Inclusion also was considered when our Murray-Heilig Chapel was being designed. The Chapel was designed to be a welcoming, sacred, and safe space without any specific religious symbols. The chairs move to accommodate prayer rugs. There are kneelers for those who pray on their knees. There is a religious library in the back with various sacred texts. They are all donated and they are free to take. So take what you need!

You can reach me at dwarriner@uchc.edu, 860-679-3230, or even through Voalte.

—Rev. Daniel D. Warriner, UConn Health Chaplain

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the Bristol Police Department. Two officers, Sgt. Dustin DeMonte and Officer Alex Hamzy, died in the line of duty last week, and Officer Alec Iurato was seriously wounded. Bristol is just the next town over. This happened in our community. So this feels very close to home for me. How about for you?

I have spoken with many people. I have watched news videos together on hospital units. I have heard the pain. I have heard stories of nightmares, fears, and anxiety about safety in the future. As I learn more about their deaths, I’m sickened by this senseless tragedy and the evil in the world.

However the specifics of this tragedy weighs on your heart, I would like to acknowledge the many levels the power of this loss to shake up our hospital community.

Perhaps you were here last Friday when the flag was held high across the main drive and the procession to the medical examiner’s office. Maybe you have patients who live or work in Bristol. Maybe you even come from Bristol. Maybe you know the department directly. Maybe you plan to be at Rentschler Field to pay your respects to the fallen officers.

This is a deep loss and a tragic moment. I see it. I hear it. I feel it. Not just for our staff, but our families and friends. What do you need in this moment of grief? Do you need to vent, cry, share a moment of silence together, or do you need a listening ear while you process? I am here if you want to connect to hold space for the tragedy. Perhaps that’s my way of not letting evil win. I want to intentionally make this a point of connection and support so you know you’re not feeling this alone. I’m here. It’s sad. I’m sad with you. Let’s grieve together.

Should you be so moved to help, please see a list of ways to support the families.

You can reach me at dwarriner@uchc.edu, 860-679-3230, or even through Voalte.

—Rev. Daniel D. Warriner, UConn Health Chaplain

It’s that time of year again, when our resident Canada geese are nesting. Our federally protected feathered friends may choose locations that aren’t all that convenient for us as campus travelers, but they have their reasons.

Here are some important things to remember:

• They tend to choose open, flat spaces so they can see predators from a distance.
• They’ll be gone in less than a month from when the mother starts sitting on her eggs. Within hours of hatching, the babies can walk and the parents will lead them away to the closest water source.
• Leave nests alone. Moving a nest containing eggs can endanger the young.
• Don’t feed them. Mom usually doesn’t eat during the incubation period, so leaving food will attract predators. And feeding the newborns unnatural foods can cause problems with their development.

Best practice: Leave them alone, stay out of their way, and when the babies come, they likely won’t be in your way any more.