The Rev. Laura Csellak has served as the chaplain of the Lutheran since Pastor Dan Rumfelt’s retirement last fall. Csellak brings 36 years of pastoral experience and a heart for the community in addition to her devotion in caring for the residents. Submitted photo

With 36 years of pastoral experience, the Rev. Laura Csellak decided to embark on a new journey as the chaplain for the Lutheran in Jamestown.

Csellak cares for guests at the Lutheran Home and the Lutheran’s various facilities throughout Jamestown. Her journey to ordination and pastoral care started at an early age.

After Csellak’s family moved from the midwest to southern Florida, her family joined a Lutheran church. ”

While she had an excellent pastor, Csellak said he was not traditionally supportive of women pastors.

“When it came to my ordination and I was going to be ordained at the church, he didn’t think women should be ordained, but he made an exception for me,” she said.

While Csellak had explored her options of ordained ministries, she had never seen a woman preach before she went to Mulenberg College in Allentown, Pa.

“I think it was then that I was able to kind of think, ‘Well that’s a possibility,'” she said.

Despite facing obstacles and pastors who disagreed with her desire to be ordained, Csellak was able to overcome the challenges and received her pastoral ordination in the Lutheran church.

“I’ve been ordained 36 years now,” she said. “I’ve served in an urban setting, a rural setting, two institutional settings and a suburban setting, so I’ve covered most of them.”

Csellak’s first calling was a church in Queens, New York, where she served an African-descent congregation. After serving in Queens, Csellak and her husband, the Rev. Mark Swanson, served in upstate New York, before Csellak was called to serve at the seminary in Philadelphia.

Last October, Csellak was appointed as the chaplain with the Lutheran in Jamestown.

“I never thought I’d be a chaplain at a nursing home, but it’s been wonderful,” she said. “It’s a challenge because Pastor Dan Rumfelt was chaplain there at Lutheran for 21 years, so I can’t step into his shoes. It’s just been a privilege. As a parish pastor, you go into a lot of nursing home settings, but it’s just going in. I only had a sliver of understanding what nursing homes are, and I’ve learned so much.”

Csellak has three Bible studies through the organization at Hultquist Place, Carlson Tower and at the Lutheran Home.

“I have a lot of experience, but I learn as much from the residents as I think I teach them,” she said. “That’s been a gift.”

In addition to organizing Bible studies, Csellak runs a book club for the residents, where she often learns about their past experiences.

“You learn about what these residents have been through,” she said. “I think when you wear the collar sometimes people are more open and authentic with you.”

As an ordained minister, Csellak views her position as an opportunity to lead the Lutheran residents in worship, while also caring for each individual.

“My first priority is worship,” she said.

A worship service is held every Sunday at 3 p.m. and is streamed on Channel 10.

Csellak said the pandemic disrupted in-person worship services for the Lutheran Home, but in-person services have been re-opened for most of the residents. However, Hultquist Place has not yet been able to have Csellak in person, which she said has been an ongoing issue.

Despite delays in the return of in-person services, Csellak said she approves of how the administration has handled the COVID-19 protocols.

“They’re keeping residents as safe as she can,” Csellak said.

While Hultquist Place residents are still not able to join the main service at the Lutheran Home, a solution has finally been planned for residents at the Hultquist Place.

Starting this Sunday, Csellak will be leading worship in-person at 1:30 p.m. at Hultquist Place.

Teamwork is another priority for Csellak, as she endeavors to provide each resident with the best possible care.

“It’s very important that we work as a team,” she said. “I work closely with the CNA’s, with the nurses, with the dietary staff, with housekeeping, with the maintenance department, physical therapy and occupational therapy. All of us, I feel, work together as a team.”

Another element of Csellak’s job was heavily influenced by her predecessor.

“Dan Rumfelt said, ‘Dying is part of living,’ and giving a ‘good death’ is important,” Csellak said.

If a family wants, Csellak said the staff and family will walk in a procession and pray after a resident dies.

“It’s such a moving experience,” she said. “I didn’t realize how important it is to the staff to have, whether they’re religious or not, this kind of dignified and intimate send off.”

However, honoring and respecting the end of a resident’s life is only part of Csellak’s goal. She also strives to honor and respect residents each day as she goes about her work.

“The main thing is to treat our residents with dignity and respect,” she said.

Whether Csellak is leading a Bible study or a worship service for the residents, visiting with a resident, or even performing a baptism when a resident requests one, her goal is to show dignity to each individual at the Lutheran residencies.

“If we say we’re going to show dignity and respect to all people, for me personally it’s because I believe that God has created all of us in God’s image.”

Although her first priority is meeting the needs of the residents and their families, Csellak said taking care of the staff is a close second priority.

“There have been opportunities that I’ve been able to provide pastoral care for them too, sometimes in their professional life and sometimes in their personal lives,” she said. “That’s been a blessing for me too.”

While her experience at the Lutheran has been quite different from her years as a parish pastor, Csellak is enjoying her position and making the most of the opportunity to serve the community in a different way.

“I’ve just been so richly embraced by Lutheran,” she said. “I just feel so privileged to be there. I always feel that any institution, and certainly a congregation, you’re not just there for the people within the walls of that institution. You’re there for those in the community. I’m still exploring how I can be there for the wider community in which we are.”