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PARISH NURSING

Program Overview

Integrating Faith and Care

At St. Peter’s Seminary, the Parish Nursing Program equips registered nurses to serve as compassionate caregivers within faith communities. Rooted in holistic care-body, mind, and spirit-this specialized training prepares nurses to support the health and spiritual well-being of parishioners through education, advocacy, and pastoral presence. This program blends theological formation with practical ministry, empowering nurses to live their vocation in service to both Church and community.

Please note: All Parish Nursing offerings are ONLINE.

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Parish Nursing Programs at St.  Peter’s Seminary in London Ontario

Discover the Heart of Parish Nursing

Health Ministry: A Circle of Care for your congregation

Parish Nursing Courses

“Serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
– 1 Peter 4:10 (NRSV)

I. Summer intensive

St. Peter’s Parish Nursing Program is offered as a one week online Summer Intensive – an immersive, spiritually enriching experience designed for registered nurses.

This format allows participants to complete core components in a focused, supportive environment while balancing their professional and personal responsibilities

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II. Foundation Plus

The Foundations Plus Program offers additional theological and pastoral formation for parish nurses who have already completed the Summer Intensive program.

Designed to deepen knowledge and strengthen ministry skills, this program supports ongoing growth in faith-based caregiving within parish and community settings.

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This program meets the criteria of the Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Ministry (CAPNM) standards of practice and core competencies. For more information about parish nursing visit www.capnm.ca

Our Formation Program

This program is designed to introduce fundamental concepts of the practice of parish nursing, which has its basis in the Christian faith and seeks health promotion with a preventative focus. It’s suitable for any registered nurse interested in integrating spirituality, health, and wholeness into their nursing practice. This program meets the criteria of the Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Ministry (CAPNM) Standards of Practice and Core Competencies.

Parish Nursing Program Objectives

  • Introduce participants to the foundations and practical knowledge necessary to begin a parish nursing ministry

  • Gain biblical, theological, and ethical perspectives on health care issues

  • Recognize the parish nurses’ role in assisting clients to achieve wellness while modelling self-care

  • Acquire understanding in pastoral and spiritual care

  • Develop a support system among other spiritually centred nurses

  • Foster a learning community and provide ongoing education opportunities to support faith community health

Program Components

I. Summer Intensive June 2028

St. Peter’s Parish Nursing Program is offered as a Summer Intensive—an immersive, spiritually enriching experience designed for working nurses. This format allows participants to complete core components in a focused, supportive environment while balancing their professional and personal responsibilities. 

  • A week-long intensive program to introduce registered nurses to wholistic health care, spiritual healing, and parish nursing as a ministry. The program will combine simultaneous online instruction with personal reflection opportunities as well as interactive networking and prayer giving students an opportunity to develop genuine camaraderie and friendship. Some reading and reflection work is required both prior to and following the summer intensive. 

    Included are topics such as:

  • Scriptural foundations of whole-person health care
  • History of Christian healing
  • Understanding spiritual nursing practice
  • Roles of the parish nurse
  • Professional practice and legal issues
  • Values and ethics in health decisions
  • Working in a ministry team
  • Prayer, devotions and worship leadership
  • Theological reflection
  • Establishing a parish nursing ministry

Among the distinguished faculty who facilitate this program, we are pleased to welcome again Fr. Mark Miller, C.Ss.R., 

Fr. Mark has a particular passion for faith-based health care ethics, hospice palliative care, and parish nursing. He is currently the provincial superior of the English-speaking Redemptorists in Canada while working part-time for the Centre for Clinical Ethics out of St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s Hospitals in Toronto.

Among the distinguished faculty who facilitate this program, we are pleased to welcome again Fr. Mark Miller, C.Ss.R., 

Fr. Mark has a particular passion for faith-based health care ethics, hospice palliative care, and parish nursing. He is currently the provincial superior of the English-speaking Redemptorists in Canada while working part-time for the Centre for Clinical Ethics out of St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s Hospitals in Toronto. 

Parish Nursing Article

Summer Residency 2018

II. Foundations Plus: September 2026 - August 2027

Following the Summer Intensive, the registered nurse continues with ongoing education which leads to a Certificate in Parish Nursing Ministry.

Requirements for Certification include: 

  • Summer Intensive

  • Reflection paper for the Summer Intensive experience 

  • Two online courses (each 5 week in length) through the University of Dayton Virtual Learning Community in partnership with St Peter’s Seminary. Course content developed by Foundations in Parish Nursing.

Requirements for Certification include: 

  • Summer Intensive

  • Reflection paper for the Summer Intensive experience 

  • Two online courses (each 5 week in length) through the University of Dayton Virtual Learning Community in partnership with St Peter’s Seminary. Course content developed by Foundations in Parish Nursing.

Foundations in Parish Nursing; Online Courses

Offered by: Dayton University On-Line Courses:
Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
(VLCFF)

https://vlc.udayton.edu

ON-Line Course: The Parish Nurse as Counsellor and Spiritual Companion

Five Week Course Consists of the following topics:
Session One: Pastoral Care / Spiritual Care Giving
Session Two: Counselling in Parish Nurse Ministry
Session Three: Impact and Management of Chronic Illness on Families
Session Four: Mental Health and the Parish Nurse
Session Five: Grief, Loss and Suffering

VLCFF Registration opens December 14, 2026 to January 6, 2027

Dates for Online Course: January 11, 2027 to February 14, 2027

Course Facilitator: Debbie Belowitz, RN, BScN, Parish Nurse; Elsie Millerd, RN, BN, Diploma in CS, MTS

For more information contact: Louise Trapp at ltrapp@rogers.com

Register early as class size is limited.

A certificate of completion for successful nurses will be granted by Dayton University, Virtual Learning Community.

Offered by: Dayton University On-Line Courses:
Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
(VLCFF)

https://vlc.udayton.edu

Parish Nursing: Facilitating Wholistic Health Through the Lifespan

Five Week Course consists of the following topics:

Session One: Wholistic Health of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Session Two: Wholistic Health of Middle and Older Adults
Session Three: Caring for Families in the Faith Community
Session Four: Wholistic Health Promotion: The Parish Nurse as Facilitator of Wellness
Session Five: End of Life Transitions

VLCFF Registration opens September 9, 2026 – October 22, 2026.

Dates for Online Course: October 26, 2026 to November 29, 2026

Course Facilitator: Debbie Belowitz, RN, BScN, Parish Nurse; Elsie Millerd, RN, BN, Diploma in CS, MTS
Cost: $105.00 (USD) /course.

NOTE: 1. Prior to registering with Dayton University Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
you must send your completed registration form and $25 cheque (one-time fee) to St Peter’s Seminary, 1040 Waterloo St. N., London, Ontario N6A 3Y1. 2).

If you are registered in the Foundations in Parish Nursing Program at St. Peter Seminary’s, you do not
pay the one-time registration fee of $25.00 (CDN).

For more information contact: Louise Trapp at ltrapp@rogers.com

Register early as class size is limited.

A certificate of completion for successful nurses will be granted by Dayton University, Virtual Learning Community.

Offered by: Dayton University On-Line Courses:
Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
(VLCFF)

https://vlc.udayton.edu

For more information contact: Louise Trapp at ltrapp@rogers.com

Register early as class size is limited.

A certificate of completion for successful nurses will be granted by Dayton University, Virtual Learning Community.

ADMISsions

 Contact Admissions

Interested in Parish Nursing Programs:

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Participants can attend final weekend of simultaneous online instruction if completed both on-line learning, and completed assignments and essay.  May also attend if first 50 hours of mentored practicum is completed.  Certificate will be presented when 100 hours completed.  

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