Celebrating 40 Years of ECS Chaplain Education

40 Years of Spiritual Care and Education

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the ECS Spiritual Care & Education Center’s accreditation by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education. The CPE Center at St. Mark’s Hospital equips chaplain professionals to address the spiritual needs of people of all ages and without discrimination, promoting holistic care and well-being in healthcare and other settings.

From Utah’s First Hospital to a Legacy of Chaplaincy

Since opening as Utah’s first hospital in 1872, St. Mark’s Hospital has embraced the value of spiritual care in healthcare. Yet it wasn’t until the arrival of Rev. Lincoln Ure in the mid-1970s that a more formal CPE training program was realized. It was under Fr. Ure’s leadership, and with his own ACPE training, that the ECS Spiritual Care & Education Center was formed.

A Community of Chaplains Making a Difference

Since it was first accredited in 1985, hundreds of professional chaplains trained at the Center are now serving across Utah and beyond — in hospitals, churches, the military, senior facilities, corporate settings, and unlimited other roles of community service. Fr. Ure passed away in 2016, but his legacy lives on through professional chaplaincy.

Continuing the Vision: What’s Next for the Center

Since joining the Center in 2021, The Rev. Dr. Mariclea Chollet has expanded the program — increasing educational opportunities, hiring a second Certified Educator, Rev. Andy Stubblefield, and launching a second-year residency program. Most recently, she began training new ACPE Certified Educators to meet the growing need for professional chaplains. More amazing milestones will be highlighted as we continue to celebrate the Center’s 40th Anniversary.

Want to learn more?
Explore the ECS Chaplain Education Center at ecsutah.org/chaplain-education