From November 27 to 29, 2023, the team of the Care Platform visited the church in Zaragoza. They shared with the church the importance of physical, social, psychological, and spiritual self-care. For successful self-care the collaboration, empathy, and involvement of those who surround us and love us is necessary. That is why the team is on the road and visits churches all around Spain. The next location will be Alicante from November 3-5. Some churches have already been visited and interested churches can contact the Women’s Ministries leadership to request a weekend with the Care Platform.
The goal of the Care Platform is to strengthen the functioning and effectiveness of the church community through the comprehensive care of female parishioners, using a multidisciplinary and interactive approach. It provides health training from the biopsychosocial and spiritual model. Information about social, labor, and health rights are provided as well as the tools or resources to exercise them. The network of Christian sisterhood strengthens bonds and provides care at the local level.
The program also provides spiritual care and calls for a daily personal encounter with God to know Him as He reveals Himself and to know His good will for every human being, praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to become channels of His grace and thus to enlarge His Kingdom while we wait for His coming.
The team members have their special areas of expertise. Mercedes Martínez, a teacher, covers spiritual care. Sarai de la Fuente Gelabert, a family and community physician explains how to care for our physical health. Mayalene Mercier Lafond, a social worker, covers Social Care. Sary Hernández Venencio, an equality and social integration technician, speaks about the importance of social networking in our sisterhood. Eli Sándoval Vasquez, a psychologist, covers psychological care and explains how stress affects us.
This initiative with its professional and at the same time spiritual approach is so inspiring! It could serve as a pilot project for Women’s Ministries everywhere.