Ginger Geeding

Ginger Geeding took office of Chaplain and Spiritual Care Director at St. Francis on July 10, 2006.

Geeding travels from a farm in Helena, Missouri to St. Francis five days a week.She and her husband of 30 years have two children.

Before coming to St. Francis, Geeding served as a registered respiratory therapist that include 1½ years as a nurse anesthetist/respiratory therapist for the University of Missouri Veterinary School.

Later through several experiences with patients and parishioners, she felt called to become a certified chaplain.After working in hospice, she returned to school to earn a Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, in Terra Haute, Indiana.Volunteering for some time, she took a part-time position providing spirituality groups and pastoral counseling to alcoholics and addicts.

Geeding came to St. Francis as a replacement for Sister Mary Hettich who relocated to Wisconsin.Since her start in July, she has been very active in the community serving on the Advisory Council for Catholic Charities, Sparks of Hope, Northwest Missouri Enterprises, and the Diocesan Pastoral Care Committee.Geeding teaches others to give Holy Communion to the sick and performs funerals for those without a church connection.

"I am here to be a Chaplain for the hospital not just a Catholic Chaplain," said Geeding.

Volunteers assist Geeding in her daily responsibilities, such as communion and hospitality visits.Volunteers also assist her on the weekends until she is able to reach the hospital.

According to Geeding, the most rewarding part of her job is "helping people find their own spiritual resources so they can have hope in their journey wherever it might be."

Ginger Geeding

Ginger Geeding and Sister Marguerite Tran are two of the first Bishop Sullivan ministry scholarship recipients.
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Ginger Geeding, a member of Co-Cathedral in St. Joseph, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to help defray tuition costs at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. Geeding, a certified Catholic chaplain, is working on her master's degree in pastoral theology.Most of her course-work will be done over the Internet.

"It's more than the money," Geeding said."It's the sense of confidence the diocese has in me.It feels really good."

Geeding has served as a chaplain in several hospitals and hospices around her hometown of Savannah.She is considering pastoral administration as a future goal because "the pain of parishes which are without a priest is so great.It might be a good fit."

She begins working at St. Peter Parish in Stanberry and St. Patrick Mission in Ford City soon.