Fr. Herbert Wheatley

In 1982 I was appointed pastor of a large parish in Tigard, Oregon. I was feeling the need for further education as I dealt with the problems my parishioners were presenting. I began taking courses in Pastoral Counseling at the University of Portland. I found them energizing, so I continued for the next 3 years taking various courses and pursuing a Master's degree in Pastoral Counseling. As part of the degree program, I was required to take one quarter of Clinical Pastoral Education. Since I also had to do a practicum, I convinced my mentors at the University to allow me to take a year of Clinical Pastoral Education that would count as my requirement for both CPE and my practicum. In 1986 I took 4 quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education at Providence Portland Medical Center. It was this experience that led me to consider becoming a hospital chaplain.

I had been in parish work for 17 years and a pastor for 7 of those years. I didn't mind working with people, but I wasn't into all the administrative tasks that went along with it. Don't get me wrong, I could do the administrative tasks, but I didn't find them as satisfying as helping people on a one to one basis. I completed my assignment in the Tigard Parish in 1985. Since I was in transition, I convinced my Franciscan superiors to allow me to complete my Master's program before accepting another assignment. With the freedom to pursue my Master's degree in Pastoral Counseling came the freedom to work at Providence Portland for the entire year of 1986. I enjoyed my CPE experience. I loved working with the patients and staff. I seemed to find my element as I entered into the pastoral relationship with the individuals coming to the hospital as patients and their families. As I was going through CPE, the head of the Pastoral Care Department asked me if I would consider coming back as a chaplain after the completion of my degree. I told her I would think about it. It didn't take me very long to realize that working as a chaplain was a very good fit for me.

I have always done better in a one to one encounter rather than with groups or crowds of people. Working with individual patients was wonderful. Their pain was real and my experiences with them showed me that they were not interested in the usual kinds of chit chat, but were willing to go to the deepest part of themselves to discuss what was of most concern to them. Their spirituality, their concept of God, their desire to be healed not only physically, but emotionally, psychologically and spiritually as well was real. I am not sure who benefited more from my encounters with them...the patient or myself. But I do know that the ministry has been so fulfilling that I have continued being a chaplain here at Providence for over 20 years. And I also know that this is where I wish to continue to minister to God's people as long as I am able.