Abstract:

Throughout the history of the world, servant leadership has been researched and favourable results such as individual, team, and organization have been linked to its construct. A practitioner of servant leadership and founder of the Ministers of the Sick, St. Camillus de Lellis is designated as a servant leader in his approach to care for the sick in this tesina.

Service is the visible face of his servant leadership. First of all, despite many challenges, St. Camillus de Lellis preached leadership by the example of compassionate service to the sick. Second, he made service to the sick the highest priority of his life. Third, Camillus displayed servant leadership such that the Roman Catholic Church elevated him to sainthood, for his was a new school of charity to the sick. The tesina identifies distinctive dimensions and essential elements which characterized his service-centered leadership.

Supported by the review of literature, the paper ascertains that Camillus, by identifying himself with the sick, gained deeper insights concerning the pain and suffering of the population for whom he dedicated himself in order to enhance the quality of life. Uniquely drawn from his faith, Camillus’ service-centered leadership is scripture-based, modelled after Jesus Christ, and people-oriented. His way of service to the sick is the prolongation of those gestures of mercy and compassion which characterized the earthly life of Christ.

It is hoped that the results of this study will help Ministers of the Infirm (Camillians) and servant leadership practitioners by cultivating servant leadership attitude in their compassionate health care services to the sick. Camillians will be true servant leaders of the sick by incorporating such service-oriented elements into their leadership orientation.

Final Defense:

Board of Examiners: Dr. Christina Kheng (Principal Examiner) and Fr. Enrico Eusebio, Jr., S.J., J.C.D.

Proposal Defense:

Board of Examiners: Fr. Jose Quilongquilong, S.J., S.T.D. (Adviser), Fr. Rogel Anecito Abais, S.J., S.T.D. cand., and Fr. Jojo Fung, S.J., Ph.D.