Home health care and hospice agency Granite VNA has appointed the Rev. Michael Malanga, D.Min., as its new spiritual care counselor and bereavement coordinator in the Lakes Region. Malanga will offer spiritual counseling to patients on hospice and their families, provide community education on spiritual care and coordinate grief counseling to support agency personnel in managing work-related grief.

Malanga brings 38 years of pastoral ministry experience from various churches throughout the United States, including Maranatha Grace Church in New Jersey, Bowling Green Covenant Church in Ohio, and Beulah Congregational Church in North Dakota, among others.

“As part of my ministry experience, I have supported parishioners and their families through many of life’s challenges, and I look forward to offering support and comfort to patients and their loved ones as they navigate the end-of-life journey,” said Malanga.

Granite VNA provides optional spiritual care services to hospice patients, their families, caregivers and staff members who may need support. Spiritual counselors such as the Rev. Malanga can provide rituals, prayers and other strategies to help patients find peace and comfort during what can be an extremely confusing and stressful time. They can also support families and caregivers as they experience and process complex feelings around losing a loved one.

Malanga earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Wagner College in New York, and both Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts.