Moffitt’s Chaplaincy Team Supports Spiritual Wellness During Cancer Care

Chaplain Garth Battick begins each day in thoughtful prayer. This time of reflection is the bedrock of his daily routine. It helps him embrace the day ahead in all its unforeseeable and uncontrollable glory. There is no desire nor motive needed, no rules or expectations — only the sweet silence of peaceful contemplation. Afterward, each step he takes is more firmly planted in the present moment.

These steps bring him to the halls of Moffitt Cancer Center, where Battick dedicates his days to serving others. As a chaplain, he plays a key role in the interdisciplinary care team, providing spiritual and emotional support to those in need. Chaplains guide patients, families and team members toward discovery of personal sources of meaning, strength and hope. Whether spiritual beliefs, core values or inner resilience, each one is increasingly important while navigating a cancer journey.

Chaplain Garth Battick begins each morning in prayer before he offers support to patients, families and team members navigating hard times.

A cancer journey unfolds on more than just a physical plane, involving the mind and spirit as much as the body. Like a gentle, steady presence, Moffitt chaplains move quietly through the hospital, offering support and comfort wherever they are needed, always upon request. Ever-present yet unobtrusive, they hold a safe space, offering guidance and a listening ear, ensuring no one has to navigate this path alone.

“Moffitt chaplains serve in an interfaith and nondenominational context. They serve patients, families and team members across all faith backgrounds as well as those who hold no faith beliefs,” said Mike Miller, manager of Chaplaincy Care and Patient Support Services at Moffitt. “On occasions when a patient has a specific religious need which the chaplain cannot personally meet, the chaplain engages religious resources available in the surrounding community to arrange appropriate support.”

Other resources Moffitt chaplains provide include:

• Encouragement in personal faith and spiritual practices
• Reflections on attempting to find meaning or purpose during life-changing siutations
• A review of considerations for end-of-life care
• Celebrations for positive events such as competition of treatment
• Support when dealing with unexpected medical events or loss
• Assistance with blessings, sacraments or praying

Spiritual wellness is a deeply personal element of cancer care, and according to Battick, practices like reflection, grace, forgiveness and exploring the depths of our emotions are steppingstones toward healing and peace.

In a vast world full of questions, spiritual care can often provide both solace and insight and lead to a sense of peace. At Moffitt, chaplaincy support provides a vital source of comfort during times of pain and uncertainty. For Battick, this role is deeply personal — his daily practices of reflection and prayer prepare him to offer comfort and guidance to others, helping them find peace and strength on their journey.

“I consider myself an instrument in God’s hands,” Battick shared. “I seek to be used by God to manifest a compassionate, understanding and supportive presence to all who permit me to come alongside them on their life’s journey.”

In this way, Moffitt’s chaplains stand ready, offering their presence and compassion to anyone seeking comfort, recognizing that spiritual care — nurturing the soul and providing strength during life’s most challenging moments — is an essential part of the healing process.