Why Are You Here?

The Diaspora Experience of Church Representatives in Secular Health Care Institutions

Abstract

First, we examine the diaspora experience of church representatives working in secular health care institutions within the context of hospital pastoral care. In the second part, we discuss the negative and positive aspects of this experience, with a special focus on the work of Catholic hospital pastoral caregiver in the Transylvanian region. The theoretical research questions were explored through primary and literature document analysis. The characteristics of the concept identified by Robin Cohen were then juxtaposed with a phenomenological analysis of the diaspora experience of hospital chaplains, and pastoral caregiver. Following Hauerwas, we can recognize the diasporic experience of churches in western secular societies. This phenomenon can be paralleled with the inadequacy of hospital pastoral care in secular health care institutions. The negatives of the diaspora experience include that the field of hospital pastoral care still searching for its place and there are many unanswered questions related to it. The phenomenon also has positive effects: stimulating inter-religious solidarity and shaping the Church's image according to Pope Francis' ecclesiological vision.