What People Say About the Program
"The CPE program at Presbyterian has been influential in helping me unearth my unique pastoral care qualities. The lessons I have learned, about remaining a non-anxious leader in the midst of the healthcare field, have taught me to balance my needs with the ministry we give to others. I am thankful that Presbyterian provides an environment where chaplains are an important part of the healthcare team."
-- Amy Pospichal, 2007-2008 Chaplain Resident
"Being part of the Presbyterian CPE program was an incredible life altering experience for me. The Chaplain's program was a journey of self discovery. The year long experience improved my ability to communicate and listen to others. (It also helped me) to understand when I'm in Pastoral care role that my role is one of compassion and being the smiling, loving face of God. The experiences also improved my ability for critical thinking. I'm the Director of Congregational Care. I believe this program assisted me in seeking God's true will for my life and future."
-- Rev. Claudia Wolfe, 2004-2005 Chaplain Resident
"My year as a CPE resident at PHS was one of the best years of my life and it has proven to be invaluable both in my personal and professional life. The program was excellent in every way, from the didactic and group experiences to the clinical practice and supervision. I found that each element of the program was well-integrated and designed to promote self-discovery as well as providing outstanding exposure to every aspect of hospital chaplaincy.
"I was employed right after my residency as a full-time hospital chaplain and I felt confident, well-equipped and competent in my new position. I was able to "hit the ground running" because of the training I received at PHS. I have been thankful on many occasions for all that I learned during my residency. I continue to draw on my notes and readings as resources and I found that the work I did at PHS was a tremendous help in completing my competencies for APC Board Certification. I still stay in touch with my fellow residents and I know I will reap the benefits of my CPE residency for years to come."
-- The Reverend Hilda Pecoraro, CPE Resident, 2005-06
"The summer CPE Program at Presbyterian Hospital was a wonderful and affirming experience. The program allowed me to be part of a team that provided pastoral care to those who are in most need of God’s love. The program taught me skills that will assist me in providing pastoral care to those in times of crisis. The program challenged me to expand and test my abilities to provide pastoral care to people of different faith beliefs and to different cultures. The program also challenged me by presenting situations which I will surely face in my future ministry. It also provided me the opportunity to grow personally by showing me areas where my family origins may have influenced my ability to relate to others. The staff and supervisors in the department were very supportive and assisted me throughout the summer program. The opportunity to be exposed to a diverse environment made for a rewarding and enriching program.
For me, CPE was the opportunity to live out the Beatitudes. It is in CPE that I found those who were poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst after justice, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and those who suffer persecution for ustice’s sake CPE can be summed up for me as follows: You do not have to look far to find those in need of God’s mercy, forgiveness and love; you only have to open your eyes.”
David Hebert, Summer CPE Intern. 2009
"Overall, I appreciated the nature of all my supervisory and staff relations. I enjoyed the freedom that I was given to work on the units I was assigned and to function as part of a team dedicated to spiritual and emotional care. I am aware that I do not function well under a micro-management style where someone is always looking over my shoulder. I did not feel that way at Presbyterian. What I did feel was that there was always someone who "had my back." I did not feel alone or isolated or left to myself to figure everything out on my own. I always knew that I had the support, the constructive criticism and the valuable feedback of my peers, the staff and the management of the department. It has been the most fruitful year of my life. "
-- Rev. Kevin Morgan, CPE Resident 2007-2008
"Upon completion of my CPE experience at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico in August 2005, I announced that CPE had been as much an inward journey as it was an outward one. Looking inward, I discovered my true interconnectedness with my immediate family as well as with my colleagues, community, and all humanity.
"Outwardly, through CPE my worldview was greatly expanded and forever changed me as a person. Three years later, as a pediatric chaplain in Texas, I continue to marvel at the insight CPE afforded me, the personal and professional growth gained from the experience, the voice I discovered within myself, how using my voice in appropriate ways has helped me communicate more effectively, and how wonderfully comfortable and honorable it is to wear these chaplain shoes! Enter CPE with an open mind, and you will leave CPE with an open heart."
-- Jo Jensen, CPE Resident, 2004-2005
"PHS CPE program has been life changing for me as a person and RN. It has helped me to combine my love of nursing with my desire to minister to the spiritual needs of patients and staff. The program was difficult and far more rewarding than I expected. I now work as an RN Spiritual Liaison and love what I do. I am very grateful to all in the PHS Chaplaincy Department that have made this such an excellent learning experience."
-- Pamela Faux RN, CPE Resident, 2003-2004
"(My) summer CPE unit was an unexpected wonderful learning experience. I came to Albuquerque with some apprehension, cynicism and questions surrounding my discernment and the summer unit, and while I did not leave with any more answers, I am returning to seminary with a deeper sense of faith and joy in my ministry.
"I initially understood this CPE unit to be a required step in (my) ordination process. I now see it as an integral piece to my ministerial formation. I am further grateful that I traveled outside my comfort zone in the Northeast and decided to try Albuquerque. I've seen different ways of grieving, celebrating and praying. In all, coming to the desert for CPE Allowed me to discover my own sources of joy and healing as well as how to channel these into my ministry."
-- Robin Tanner, Summer CPE Intern, 2008
"A year long CPE Residency at Presbyterian enabled me to come to a deeper understanding of myself. It enriched me with more tools to deal with difficult situations in my priestly ministry."
-- Father Binu Joseph Pazhayaveettil, Norbertine Community, CPE Resident, 2007-2008
