Siloam's Values and Staff
Spirituality for Wellness in the HIV/AIDS Community
SILOAM uses the words "spirituality" and "wellness" in very practical terms.
By spirituality we mean the connectedness that a person feels to him/herself, to other people, to a power greater than self (however one understands this) and to the natural world. Wellness is the gauge by which we measure the level of connectedness and overall physiological and mental functioning.
A person who is connected to him/herself has a good sense of his/her history, understands why s/he is who s/he is, and understands that accepting oneself is more important than gaining the acceptance and approval of others.
The person who is connected to others is able to find satisfaction in human interactions and bonds, and feels that s/he belongs to a community in which people are known and cared for.
Being connected to a power greater than self and to the natural world means understanding and coming to accept the life cycle in which all living things come into being, grow and eventually pass on.
While people who practice their religious beliefs are pursuing their spiritual well being, spirituality is not synonymous with religion. Religion entails an organized body of thought, beliefs and practices. For SILOAM, spirituality cuts across all belief systems and speaks to our common humanity irrespective of one's cultural or religious background, or whether one believes in a higher power.
SILOAM's Core Values
Users of Siloam's Services will be:
1. Treated with dignity and respect.
2. Listened to and heard without judgment.
3. Able to safely address issues that matter most in their lives.
4. Welcomed to be part of a compassionate community,
5. Encouraged to develope skills and personal strength to help manage living with HIV/AIDS.
6. Educated on how to self advocate.
Executive Director--Joseph A. Lukach, MSW, MBA, M.Div
Program Director--Lori Curtis, MSW, LSW
Associate Program Director--Cathy Maguire, RSM
Senior Program Associate--Bernadette Kinniry, RSM
Office Manager--Sheila Breen
Administrative Assistant--Carla Blackwell