Sacred space offers peace and comfort for every faith
This is a place that is suitable for all faiths to use and for our staff and patients to use for rest, rejuvenation, prayer, meditation and worship. Interior Health’s Derek Koch
People of all faiths now have a new space to meet, pray and meditate in at Kelowna General Hospital. The room, known as the sacred space, officially opened on Friday, replacing the former hospital chapel.
“This is a place that is suitable for all faiths to use and for our staff and patients to use for rest, rejuvenation, prayer, meditation and worship,” said Derek Koch, spiritual health practitioner with Interior Health.
The sacred space is on the ground floor of the hospital and was formerly two meeting rooms that were transformed into one open room.
The room has no items on display pertaining to any particular faith.
Instead, there are cupboards at one end of the room containing religious materials people can use.
“Some people who are used to a more chapel or church-like environment will come in here and say this doesn’t look like a church anymore, and I understand that,” said Koch.
“At the same time, it’s brighter and open to everybody, and there needs to be some kind of coming together in humility and care and mutual respect.”
Bishop John Corriveau, with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson, said having a place such as the sacred space is an important part of a hospital.
“Emphasizing that care of the sick is also care of the spirit is very important, and I’m very happy that this is recognized by this new sacred space,” he said.
“I’m also happy that it represents all faiths in one place, where we can all gather in recognition of what’s sacred in our lives.”
Rabbi Shmuly Hecht, with the Chabad Okanagan Centre for Jewish Life and Learning, said he too was happy to see all faith groups working together in this way.
“Anybody in the community can come as an individual, open the cupboard and find the book of their faith that provides healing, comfort, solace, meaning and purpose in whatever they’re going through and can encourage them and give them new life, new vigour to be able to carry on and become stronger from whatever they’re experiencing,” he said.
The total cost of the sacred space was $140,000, with half the funds provided by the KGH Foundation and the other half from fundraising with faith groups and individual donors throughout the Central Okanagan.