SALT LAKE CITY — Wafts of sage incense lingered across the rock garden of St. Mark's Hospital on Thursday, as six spiritual leaders from different denominations individually blessed the hands of hospital employees.
The Blessing of the Hands is an annual interfaith event held for staff members and caregivers of St. Mark's Hospital. During a two-hour time period scheduled near lunch, employees are invited to have their hands blessed by the present religious leaders.
"This is a yearslong tradition," St. Mark's CEO Steven B. Bateman said. "This organization feels that spirituality is as important to patient healing as the technical parts are. We essentially balance the two."
People from the hospital's myriad departments showed up to have their hands blessed. Cafeteria workers stood next to physicians as they made their way down the line of spiritual leaders and were blessed by each one.
Owners of pet therapy animals from the Intermountain Therapy Animals nonprofit group even had spiritual leaders bless the paws of their dogs.
"Regardless of our role, everyone touches a patient — everyone," said Sandy Osmond, chief nursing officer.
Although the event is held annually, the faiths represented at the Blessing of the Hands change each year, creating a different "flavor" of spiritual experience, according to Bateman.
"They have all the different faiths to restore your faith and to give you a spiritual boost," said Molly Davis, a member of the emergency room staff. "It's important because we use our hands all of the time."
Davis and a few other employees chose to have their hands blessed by a single religious leader rather than the entire line, due to time constraints, but they attempt to get a different spiritual blessing each year.
Similar to how no person associated with St. Mark's Hospital is excluded from having their hands blessed, no faith is barred from being invited to officiate at the Blessing of the Hands. Often, religious leaders who officiate at the ceremony are those who are both eager and available to attend.
"It's a powerful experience for us as well," said the Rev. Nancy Piggott of Holladay United Church of Christ.
Piggott said she believes the hope and strength provided by the Blessing of the Hands is substantial to increasing the morale of caregivers and hospital employees who are helping patients heal.
"There is so much use of hands in a hospital, from cooking, cleaning, to surgeries," said Chris Forsdick, a recreation therapist. "The blessings are uplifting. I have always participated in the 10-plus years I have been here. It's a great way to recharge."
Religious leaders who participated in the event included: Bishop Blake Boatright from the Salt Lake Winder Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the Rev. Claudia Giacoma of St. Luke's Episcopal Church; Lillian Montes from the Hispanic Pentecostal Church; the Rev. Jeff Beebe of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church; and Sue Ann Cotonuts from the Northern Ute Tribe.
St. Mark's Hospital plans to continue the tradition of "healing the healers" using the Blessing of the Hands during each National Hospital Week. Next year, hospital officials hope to have several new and past religious leaders officiate in the 15th annual ceremony.
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