On March 11, 2026, the graduation ceremony for the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program was held in the garden of the University of Southern California Arcadia Hospital. The program prepares chaplains through group work and personal reflection in the context of pastoral ministry in hospital settings.
The group was led by supervisor Rev. Bruce Whyte and included Stephanie Ivler, Richard Reliford, Abigail Gaines, Tibetan monk Tenzin Chopel, and Fr. Saia Fainga’a, associate pastor at Holy Name of Mary Church in San Dimas.
The ceremony began with a Tibetan blessing chant performed by Tenzin Chopel. During the event, Fr. Saia Fainga’a sscc graduated with one unit of CPE and spoke about how the experience helped him grow personally and understand his identity beyond his role as a priest.
Participants also reflected on the impact of the program, emphasizing the importance of empathy, trust, and human accompaniment in providing spiritual care to patients.
03/16/2026