On October 23, Credit Valley Hospital held its annual Spiritual Care Open House, welcoming community faith groups and hospital staffto explore the role of spiritual care in modern healthcare.

Representing Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto, Spiritual Care Team leader Stephanie Hong, member Debbie Choi, and Buddha’s Light Young Adult Jinger Chueh attended the event and exchanged ideas with Jennifer Santos, department manager, and chaplains Mohammed Bemat and John Kim.

John Kim explained that patients can indicate their religious affiliation upon admission. The hospital then connects them with appropriate faithrepresentatives for compassionate spiritual support. For Buddhist patients, volunteers from Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto’s Spiritual Care Team provide weekly in-person visits, offering comfort and guidance through Buddhist spiritual care.

The Open House coincided with Spiritual Health Awareness Week (SHAW), promoted by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). This year marks the 100th anniversary of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), founded by Rev. Anton T. Boisen, who pioneered the integration of spiritual and psychological care in clinical settings. CASC advocates that holistic healing embraces the body,mind, and spirit as interconnected dimensions of well-being.

To foster awareness, Credit Valley Hospital offered tea and refreshments while inviting staff, patients, and families to learn about the Spiritual Care Department and available resources. The event emphasized that spiritual andemotional support is open to everyone—patients and families alike—regardless of faith tradition.

During interfaith dialogue, Stephanie Hong and Debbie Choi hope that more hospitalized patients will feel comfortableidentifying their faith to access Buddhist chaplaincy services. They alsoshared Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision: “To bring Buddhism into daily life and serve society with compassion.”

Today, the hospital’s main-floor Prayer Room features a paintingof Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin) Bodhisattva, with meditation cushions provided by FGS Toronto’s Spiritual Care Team for anyoneseeking a peaceful space for reflection and prayer.