Bradford Teaching Hospitals Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Team

Happy Diwali to all those people celebrating. Please visit our stand on the Main concourse on Friday 1.11.24.
Hope everyone enjoys the festivities this festival brings; we wish you good health, peacefulness and a great new year.
The word Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word deepavali, meaning "rows of lighted lamps".
Houses, shops and public places are decorated with small oil lamps called diyas. People also enjoy fireworks and sweets too, so it's really popular with children.
Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. The festival usually lasts five days and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika
Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

Image by freepik

PAUSE FOR PEACE 15.10.24
Join the SPaRC team every Tuesday, at 12.30pm (for 5 minutes) on the main concourse at Bradford Royal Infirmary for some words of reflection and a minute’s silence.

Baby Loss Week (9-15 October 2024). Join other families across the world by lighting a candle at 7pm on Tuesday 15 October. You are invited to join the Wave of Light at Bradford City Hall (see photo for details).

This is Baby Loss Awareness week 9-15 October. Come and find information and support at the stall on the main BRI Concourse until 2pm.

Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Sunday, 11 October 2024.
Jews do not work or go to school on this day and will mark the day by fasting for 25 hours, attending synagogue or observing the day in other ways. The fast lasts for 25 hours, rather than the typical 24 of a full day as this allows a cushion of time for the subjectivity of “nightfall” as a moment in time.
Anyone who must eat due to health reasons will not be required to fast. Children under the age of nine are also exempt as are pregnant women.
The day is spent in continuous prayer. Jews will also reflect on any of their wrongdoings from the previous year.
It is thought a person is able to influence God’s plans for the coming year and can make amends by asking for God’s forgiveness.
For more information on Yom Kippur please click on the link below.

https://inews.co.uk/culture/yom-kippur-2023-fast-times-what-time-jewish-day-atonement-starts-meaning-fasting-explained-2638757?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14gkC0Bmhu49abHzikBNbbPn-knLiPWmglZGhRL1zJYRUcuJv_xkrs97E_aem_Ld1LIJc6dPBd4UrnkRbIFw #:~:text=It%20begins%20at%20sunset%20on,the%20day%20in%20other%20ways

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

"Love and compassion are necessities' not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive". We paused for peace yesterday 8.10.24 SLH to remember those caught up in war and conflict around the world. Some reflections from staff that attended

"Let us not be swayed by the actions of others. We must always do what is right for our fellow humans".

Just one of the many reflections written by staff who attended Pause for Peace yesterday

"To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity". Remembering all the suffering and loss of life 1 year on. Thank you for joining us to Pause for Peace yesterday

Some of the SPaRC team took a moment out of their day to say a few words to remember those who are sadly no longer with us. More info below from trust's global email.

Trust remembers colleagues in first National Su***de Memorial Day for health workers today Tuesday 17 September 2024

Doctors in Distress and NHS Practitioner Health are joining together to mark their first National Su***de Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers today.

As we were one of the first hospital trusts in the country to plant a memorial tree at Bradford Royal infirmary in March, we are hoping that colleagues will take a moment to reflect on this new awareness day.

Our memorial tree is growing beside Prospect Cottage, where the SPaRC team is based, and the Trust’s Listening for Life Centre, close to where we’re developing the new Reflection Garden.

The inaugural theme for the national Memorial Day is Time to Reflect. We encourage you to have a quiet moment at our tree and perhaps post some photos, videos or reflections on your socials to mark the first such day, which will go on to be fixed in our annual calendars.

We really hope that you will embrace National Su***de Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers, so that we can help break down the stigma, to normalise the conversation around workforce mental health and around su***de.

For more information, visit: https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk/

If you are worried about your mental health and would like help, please click here as there are many services who can offer support.

BRADFORD FAITH LEADERS STAND TOGETHER FOR PEACE

Today BTHFT is celebrating Armed Forces Day. Pop along to the main concourse. Refreshments available. Enter the raffle

Pop down to the main concourse today to learn more about Humanism. Lots of information on our display stand for you to browse and to hear more about World Humanist Day and what it means to Humanists around the world

World Humanist Day 21st June. An occasion for Humanists to promote and celebrate the values they hold looking to human experience and scientific and rational thinking for their wisdom and values, and to justice and equality for their moral compass.

Come over to the main concourse today to see our display.

Happy Solstice. It’s the first official day of summer and longest day of the year! Enjoy the sunshine today where ever you are.

More info below:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/20/summer-solstice-stonehenge-what-date-how-celebrate-glastonbury/ #:~:text=The%20summer%20solstice%2C%20otherwise%20known,of%20the%20long%20summer%20days.

World Refugee Day 2024

Each year on 20 June, the world celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.

For local events see:
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/24386743.series-events-held-bradford-mark-refugee-week/

Eid Mubarak to our patients, families, staff and communities. Thinking also of those suffering and displaced due to war across the world. Praying for enduring peace and an end to their suffering. Thank you to those working across over Eid to keep our patients safe

Once again we are organising our Shared Memories service to bring comfort to bereaved families affected by the loss of a baby or child:
🏦 Listening for Life Centre, BRI
🗓️ Saturday, 8 June
🕚 11am
👉 https://shorturl.at/2uJDd
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Spiritual, Pastoral and Religious Care Team Bradford Hospitals' Charity

Shared memories service offers support to bereaved families – Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

It's and we want to say a big THANK YOU to all our fabulous SPaRC volunteers here . We appreciate all you do and know you make a difference. We are very grateful for your volunteering support within our team.

Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. It is also known as Wesak or Buddha Day. It is also a time to reflect on his teachings and what it means to be Buddhist
Vesak Day is the celebration of Buddha’s birth and enlightenment. It is observed across the world on the day of the full moon between May/June, depending upon the lunar calendar. On Vesak Day, temples are lit up with lamps (symbolizing the radiance of knowledge and awareness), flowers are offered to statues of Buddha (symbolizing purity and love), and charity events are organized for the poor and homeless (embodying peace and compassion).
https://www.un.org/en/observances/vesak-day
https://untoday.org/vesak-day-celebrating-enlightenment/

Happy Pascha! (Easter) to Orthodox Christian colleagues, patients and the wider community, celebrating on Sunday 5th May. This date is in accordance with the Julian calendar. Easter Sunday church services celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mel Pickup

Happy Passover to all our Jewish colleagues, patients and communities.

https://eu.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/04/22/when-does-passover-start-what-to-know-about-the-jewish-holiday/73384514007/

Happy Passover to all our Jewish colleagues, patients and communities.

Happy Vaisakhi to all our Sikh colleagues today. This festival was celebrated today on our Main Concourse. A big THANK YOU to RESIN, Raquel Licas, The SPaRC Team, the Sikh Community and The Funky Indian who provided the food - all helping to make this event a great success!

Ramadan Mubarak to our patients, families, staff, colleagues and communities. A time for reflection; thinking of the less fortunate, the poor and needy, those suffering in conflict and war around the world. Praying this Ramadan for peace especially in Palestine.