Your Spiritual Care Team
Manager
Gary is the Manager of the Spiritual Care Department. He is certified as a Teaching Supervisor through the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC). Prior to his employment with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Gary was the manager of Spiritual Care at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Apart from his management and teaching responsibilities, he is also a Registered Psychotherapist and is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Priest / Chaplain
Fr. Andrew has been working as a priest chaplain at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton since 2001. Originally from Ukraine where he studied languages, literature, and pedagogy at the University of Lviv, his theological education began in his home country, and later continued at the Westfaelischen Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany. He is at home in his theologies of both the Christian East and West. His love for hospital work was initiated in Europe, and matured through chaplaincy training here in Canada. Andrew is also a Registered Psychotherapist, and is a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Chaplains
Lucinda Landau, RP, MDiv, DMin, is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She is a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner (CASC) and she has recently completed the Doctor of Ministry program at the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto. Her Doctoral research was focused on Spiritual Care and life review at end of life. She works fulltime as a chaplain at St. Joe's and serves on the Professional Advisory Council of Bereaved Families of Ontario, South Central Region.
Feli Toledo is a Chaplain/Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner in the Intensive Care, Medical Stepdown and Birthing Units. She has been providing spiritual and religious care at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton since 1990 and has served on a number of clinical units and hospital committees. Currently, she is a member of the 3 Wishes Research/Program, the first intentional interprofessional collaboration between Critical Care, Palliative Care and Spiritual Care in the ICU.
Feli earned her Master of Divinity degree at McMaster Divinity College and has a Master of Arts in Education degree from the Philippines. She is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and a Certified Specialist with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care.
Janet Young has been a full-time chaplain at the St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, West 5th Campus since 2004. Clinically, she provides coverage on Schizophrenia Services, one of the General Forensic Units and Seniors Mental Health, as well as providing volunteer support and outpatient counselling and follow-up as needed. Janet came to St. Joseph's as a chaplaincy resident in 2002 following a short contract at St. Mary's in Kitchener. With a BSc from Aberdeen University she taught Chemistry in Scotland before immigrating to Canada. She obtained her Master of Theological Studies in Pastoral Counselling from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1997 and her Master of Divinity Equivalency from CASC in 2009. She is a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and Certified Supervisor Educator with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC) and has supervised CPE units at SJHH. Janet is also a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
Peter has been working as a hospital chaplain since 2003 and has experience in a variety of clinical settings. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and was a practicing engineer before embarking upon a much different vocational path. Peter received his theological training from McMaster Divinity College where he earned a Masters of Religious Studies and a Masters of Theological Studies. He is a registered psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, a certified member of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care, and an associate member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Peter considers it a privilege to provide spiritual support to people affected by illness.
Certified Spiritual Care Provider / Educator
Roy has provided spiritual care in the Emergency Department and in various Acute Mental Health units at the Charlton and West 5th campuses. He is also an education supervisor of residents and learners in the Supervised Pastoral Education programs administered by the Spiritual Care department. Roy serves, or has served, on several committees and programs on behalf of SJHH, currently including the Labyrinth Committee. Roy has a Master of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He is a certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and a Spiritual Care Supervisor-Educator in CASC (the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care) as well as a Registered Psychotherapist in the CRPO (the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.)
Certified Spiritual Care Provider / Educator / PPL
Kelly is a Supervisor-Educator in the Spiritual Care department’s education program and staff spiritual care provider in a variety of units when she is not teaching. Kelly rejoins SJHH, having done her residency here. In the last 5 years, Kelly has worked as a Spiritual Care Practitioner at The Dorothy Ley Hospice in Etobicoke where she co-led the Community Hospice team. Kelly has a Master of Divinity degree specializing in Pastoral Leadership and a Masters of Arts in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy. She is a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and a Provisional Spiritual Care Supervisor-Educator with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care. She is a Registered Psychotherapist, registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She is ordained as a Chaplain in her faith community. Kelly is currently the professional practice lead for the Spiritual Care department.
Part-Time Chaplains
Alex is a Spiritual Care Practitioner at the West 5th campus focusing on psycho-spiritual care within the mental health context. Alex received his M.Div from St. Peter's Catholic Seminary and is a Registered Psychotherapist. He completed his residency in spiritual care at St. Joe's Healthcare Hamilton. Alex has had experience as a spiritual care provider working with a variety of populations including dementia, palliative, general and emergency medicine. He is also a counsellor at Catholic Family Services in Hamilton and works in music and retreat ministry in the Hamilton Diocese. Alex is passionate about those who come for care at St. Joe's. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve others within the St. Joe's Hamilton Healthcare team. At home he practices self-care by exploring the world around him through hiking, biking, jazz music and reading.
Residents
Ala’ is a Spiritual Care Resident on Cardiology (DCD), Clinical Teaching Unit –North (CTU-N) and 6GI at the Charlton campus. She has completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Religious and Cultural Studies and a Masters of Arts in Theology: Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfrid Laurier University. Ala’ provides compassionate multi-faith spiritual care to patients, families, and staff.
Mathew Seeram is a resident in Spiritual Care and is providing spiritual care at Mountain 1 A (Concurrent Disorders) and Harbour North 1 A (Seniors’ Behavioral) in the West Fifth Campus. After the first half of his residency program he will be providing spiritual care at the Charlton Campus in the Clinical Teaching Unit West, Short stay, and Mental health-9. He obtained his Master of Theology from Tyndale University College & Seminary in Toronto and Master of Arts from Andhra University in India. He is a member of the Anglican Network in Canada and active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in St. Catharines, ON.
Francis Juliette Alzate is from Colombia. In 2013, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from McMaster University. In 2015, she became a member of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), as well as she completed her first intense basic unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Niagara Health System. Now, she is in her third year of her Master of Divinity degree, specializing in Counseling and Spiritual Care, at McMaster Divinity College. As an intern chaplain in the Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Juliette will be providing spiritual care at the West 5th location in the Acute Mental Health and Mood Disorders units.
Jeff Kendall comes from the small town of Sarnia, in southern Ontario. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, and went on to earn a Masters of Theological Studies from McMaster University. Last year he had the privilege to serve patients, families, and staff in St. Catherine’s General Hospital as a Spiritual Care student learner, and now brings his experience and passion to SJHH as a Spiritual Care Resident.
Roberta (Robbie) is a Resident in Spiritual Care for Clinical Teaching West, Short Stay, and the Acute Mental Health Unit (Level 9) at the Charlton campus from September to May. From May to August, she will be providing spiritual care to the Clinical Teaching North, Cardiology, and 6 GI surgery units. Robbie has a BScN from the University of Windsor, a Masters of Theological Studies from Western University (Huron College), and a Masters of Arts in Theology- Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfred Laurier University (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary).