In October of 2025, our St. Camillus Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program began its Extended Unit with six students enrolled to further develop their professional clinical ministry skills. Through the CPE Program, our students gain a new understanding of ministry and the needs of those whom they minister that can be applied to a variety of settings including congregations, parishes, hospitals, long term care facilities, and other health care settings.
Our six CPE students, also called Chaplain Interns, joined us from the Milwaukee area with different faith backgrounds and calls to ministry.
Near the end of the program, CPE students nominate one campus staff member or volunteer as the winner of the O’Donnell Award. This award is given to the person whom the students believe has contributed to the ministerial development of the group through support and encouragement. This award is named after Fr. Richard O’Donnell, MI—a member of the Order of St. Camillus, former Provincial Delegate and an ACPE Certified Educator. Fr. Richard O’Donnell dedicated many years of his ministry supervising CPE students both locally and internationally and was instrumental in founding the CPE Program on our campus. For this unit, the students nominated Bernard Hardy as the winner of the O’Donnell Award. They shared that they were inspired by Bernard’s compassionate and loving approach in caring for our residents and families.
In March, a graduation service was held with the students and their family members, colleagues, residents, members of our Professional Advisory Group (CPE Board), members of campus leadership and the Order, members of other departments, and Pastoral Care joining in the celebration.
The feedback we received during the students’ exit interview was overwhelmingly positive for this unit. Our students shared that they have deepened their understanding of themselves and how to provide spiritual care and some have signed up to take another unit of CPE on our campus.
The success of this CPE unit has affirmed that our campus continues to confidently offer students ministry experience and training by being creative and flexible in our approach. Our CPE Program will continue to strive to be a leader in chaplaincy training as a renowned center for specialized spiritual care in the field of geriatric health care.
