Priest

Job Description

Job Description

Where Faith Meets Compassion: Bring Sacred Presence, Comfort, and Hope to Life’s Most Meaningful Moments at MorseLife Hospice.

About MorseLife

For more than 40 years, MorseLife Health System has been setting the standard for exceptional senior care in South Florida. As a nonprofit healthcare system, we are dedicated to enriching the lives of older adults through compassionate care, clinical excellence, innovation, and service.

We are proud to be recognized as a:
•    Great Place To Work® Certified employer
•    5-Star Teaching Nursing Home
•    Recipient of the Gold Seal Award from the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care

At MorseLife, learning never stops. As a respected teaching organization, we proudly partner with leading colleges, universities, and healthcare training institutions to educate and mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through our robust clinical rotation program, students gain valuable hands-on experience while working alongside experienced clinicians and interdisciplinary teams dedicated to excellence.

Our academic partners include:

•    Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations
•    Barry University
•    Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
•    Florida International University (FIU)
•    Keiser University
•    Lynn University
•    Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
•    Palm Beach State College (PBSC)
•    South Florida Healthcare Institute
•    South University
•    University of Miami (UM)

Whether you’re beginning your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact every day.

MorseLife by the Numbers

•    40+ years of serving South Florida seniors and their families
•    1,700+ dedicated team members united by a shared mission
•    5-Star Teaching Nursing Home recognized for excellence in care
•    Great Place To Work® Certified workplace
•    Gold Seal Award recipient from the Governor’s Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care
•    11 academic partnerships helping educate tomorrow’s healthcare professionals
•   Comprehensive continuum of care, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Short-Term Rehabilitation, Hospice, Home Health, PACE, and Community-Based Services
•    Mission-driven nonprofit organization committed to excellence, compassion, and innovation

Position Summary

The Hospice Priest responds to the spiritual and sacramental needs of Catholic patients who request care, with a particular emphasis on providing Last Rites/Anointing of the Sick, Holy Communion, prayer, pastoral support, and presence during the end-of-life journey. This role also provides support to families and collaborates closely with the hospice Bereavement Department and Psychospiritual Team to ensure holistic, patient-centered care.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Respond to requests from Catholic patients and families for Last Rites/Anointing of the Sick and other appropriate Catholic sacramental support.
• Provide Holy Communion, prayer, blessings, Scripture, and other appropriate spiritual support to Catholic patients.
• Provide compassionate pastoral presence and spiritual support to patients and families experiencing the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges associated with the dying process and end-of-life care, while respecting their beliefs, traditions, wishes, and dignity.
• Support patients and families in identifying and addressing spiritual concerns, questions, fears, hopes, and needs.
• Coordinate, when appropriate, with a patient's parish priest or other Catholic clergy to support continuity of pastoral and sacramental care.
• Serve as an on-call Catholic Priest for hospice patients throughout Palm Beach County.
• Maintain reasonable flexibility to accommodate patient and family needs, including time-sensitive end-of-life requests.
• Communicate appropriately with the hospice team regarding visits, patient needs, and follow-up recommendations.

Ongoing Patient Support

• When clinically and spiritually indicated, provide periodic pastoral visits, potentially approximately once per month, to offer continued spiritual support to Catholic patients.
• Establish meaningful relationships with patients and families while maintaining appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries.
• Serve as an ongoing Catholic spiritual resource for patients who desire continued sacramental or pastoral connection.

Collaboration with the Hospice Team

• Collaborate with the Psychospiritual Team to support the spiritual and existential needs of Catholic patients.
• Work collaboratively with the Bereavement Department to support families before and following the death of a loved one.
• Participate in interdisciplinary collaboration, as appropriate, to promote comprehensive, patient-centered care.
• Serve as a Catholic subject-matter resource to hospice staff regarding Catholic sacramental practices, traditions, and end-of-life spiritual needs.
• Provide guidance to hospice staff regarding when and how Catholic patients may benefit from sacramental or pastoral intervention.

Community Outreach

• Participate, as available and appropriate, in community outreach and educational activities designed to increase awareness of hospice services.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Catholic parishes, diocesan organizations, Catholic healthcare and community organizations, and other faith-based resources throughout Palm Beach County.
• Serve as an ambassador for the hospice's commitment to providing compassionate spiritual care to Catholic patients and families.
• Educate community partners and clergy about the availability of hospice services and the spiritual care resources offered to Catholic patients.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Catholic Priest in good standing and authorized to provide Catholic sacramental ministry is required.
• Ordination to the priesthood and appropriate standing within the Catholic Church.
• Demonstrated experience providing pastoral or sacramental care to individuals who are seriously ill, dying, or grieving.
• Understanding of Catholic teachings, sacramental practices, and pastoral traditions related to serious illness and end of life.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, listening, and pastoral care skills.
• Compassionate, approachable, and comfortable working with patients and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary hospice team.
• Ability and willingness to provide on-call coverage throughout Palm Beach County.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in hospice, palliative care, hospital ministry, parish ministry, or healthcare chaplaincy.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Familiarity with Catholic healthcare and community resources in Palm Beach County.
• Experience supporting families through grief, loss, and bereavement.
• Strong relationships with local Catholic parishes, clergy, and community organizations.

Key Competencies

• Compassion and presence: Provides a calm, reassuring, and supportive presence during highly emotional circumstances.
• Sacramental competence: Demonstrates knowledge and appropriate administration of Catholic sacraments and pastoral practices.
• Responsiveness: Recognizes the time-sensitive nature of end-of-life sacramental requests and responds appropriately.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with hospice nurses, social workers, chaplains, physicians, bereavement staff, and the Psychospiritual Team.
• Cultural and spiritual sensitivity: Honors each patient's beliefs, values, dignity, and individual wishes.
• Community engagement: Builds positive relationships with Catholic clergy, parishes, and community partners.
• Professionalism: Maintains confidentiality, appropriate boundaries, reliability, and ethical conduct.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• None required.

Benefits & Perks

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Eligible team members enjoy access to:

•    Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
•    Health Savings Account (HSA)
•    Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
•    Company-Paid Life Insurance
•    Voluntary Life and Supplemental Insurance
•    Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
•    403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
•    Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
•    Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
•    Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development Opportunities
•    Employee Referral Bonus Program
•    Employee Recognition and Appreciation Programs
•    Exclusive Employee Discounts through Tickets At Work
•    Free Parking
•    On-site Dining and Employee Cafeteria
•    Career Growth and Internal Advancement Opportunities

Our Talent Acquisition team is committed to making your hiring experience as seamless and welcoming as possible, from your application through your first day as a member of the MorseLife family.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At MorseLife, you’re more than an employee. You’re part of a team united by a shared mission to enrich the lives of older adults while supporting one another every step of the way.

Here’s what makes MorseLife a great place to build your career:

• Work for a Great Place To Work® Certified employer where employees are valued, respected, and supported.
• Join a 5-Star Teaching Nursing Home that is shaping the future of healthcare through partnerships with leading colleges and universities.
• Build your career with an organization that has proudly served South Florida for more than 40 years.
• Work alongside experienced clinicians, interdisciplinary teams, and healthcare students committed to excellence.
• Take advantage of ongoing professional development, continuing education, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for internal advancement.
• Experience a culture built on our core values of Leadership, Teamwork, Customer Focus, Quality, Impact, and Passion.