All accounts made him out to be the merriest of mendicants, but a mystic whose overpowering faith compelled other men to follow him. For those of us who have chosen to work in one of the SSFHS facilities, and with the help of our fellow employees, our challenge is to put these words into action and practice in our daily lives.
Continuing - This "action word" tell us that it is now up to each of us to maintain without interruption, the values, the traditions, the good works of the hundreds of thousands of people who have gone before us and those who are presently working within the SSFHS facilities.
Christ's- Jesus Christ, who lived over 2000 years ago, is the model for each of us in the living of our lives. Jesus lived His life as a Teacher and as a Healer. He was gentle. He was compassionate. He was loving and caring. He listened and He spoke when this was needed. He cried and He laughed. He was joyful and He was pensive. He was prayerful. He truly is the model for everything that we do!
Ministry - The ministries that each of us are involved include healing and teaching. In whatever our capacity, in some way we are assisting the patient in the healing process or, in the dying process, whatever the particular instance may be. As a housekeeper, nurse, pharmacist, cook, accountant or physician----each of us assists the patient in the healing process---according to our own skills, expertise and profession.
Our - This word implies "ownership". This particular Mission Statement is carried out by the employees of each SSFHS facility. So, for you, the employees, you are in a "particular" organization, not just "any" organization. The traditions, the culture, the good works that have existed within these facilities are what make us SSFHS!
Franciscan - St. Francis was a young man of considerable wealth, who gave up his riches to live a life of poverty. He was a man who loved people; who loved the Church; who lived the Gospel life. St. Francis gave us the example of loving and caring for the "least" among us---the most unloved, the poor, the uncared for, the person who has no health insurance, the person who is shunned by society today. We turn away no one...
Tradition - An inherited, a customary pattern of action or behavior. These traditions can ONLY be carried out by each one of us and unless WE carry them out, they will not be done. Without each of us "Continuing Christ's Ministry in Our Franciscan Tradition," this Mission will not continue to happen. This is what we expect of our employees and we invite you to join us.
We live our Mission Statement together. We are in this together. We do great things together! But, of course, we are human, we make mistakes. But, the remarkable part of living this Mission together is that, on the day that I am not so wonderful, you are! And, the day that you are not so wonderful, I am---and TOGETHER, we live the Mission as best we can! And, that is all that we can ask of anyone!
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