Pastoral Care

Pastoral Caregivers

Pastoral caregivers provide spiritual and emotional support to patients families and hospital staff, regardless of religious affiliation faith beliefs and cultural backgrounds.  Respecting and cherishing the dignity and worth of each person, Chaplains offer a compassionate presence and an attentive ear to personal concerns, fears and questions.  They support each person's effort at accessing and applying his or her personal and community resources and faith experiences toward improved health, peace and hope-filled living.

Who Are Chaplains?

Chaplains are trained professionals, ordained and non-ordained women and men, who have appropriate training and at least one year of supervised experience in hospital pastoral care services.  Sacramental ministry is provided by a Catholic priest on staff during his visits throughout the week.

Will I Be Visited?

Chaplains regularly visit patients on their assigned unit during daytime hours.  If you would like to see a Chaplain, please ask your nurse to contact one for you.  The Chaplain can also assist in accessing a pastor or other spiritual resources chosen by the patient.  Holy Communion is distributed by Eucharistic Ministers each morning to Catholic patients who request it.

Visiting Clergy and Parish Visitors

St. Mary's Hospital welcomes visiting clergy and authorized parish visitors from the patent's church community.

Help With Difficult Questions

A Chaplain can be an effective help in resolving ethical issues and personal struggles that arise when challenged by advanced directives, choice or refusal of treatment, codes and options when treatment is burdensome and no longer effective.

Emotional & Spiritual Support

Troublesome feelings and disturbing doubts an arise in the face of illness, suffering, and/or death:  "Why?" or "Does my life have any meaning?" or "Is there any purpose in my suffering?"  Sharing with a Chaplain may be helpful in processing these and other spiritual issues (such as guilt, anger, resentment, anxiety, grief, fear and hopelessness) toward reconciliation and reassurance.

When Cure or Physical Healing Will Not Happen

A Chaplain can assist patients and families in preparing for death and in dealing more comfortably with the process of dying.  Being a supportive presence to the dying, making "thank you" "I love you" and goodbye" messages, coping with circumstances and after death feelings and task may be helped by the support of a Chaplain.

Catholic Mass, Chapel & Chaplain Offices

A lovely chapel is located on the first floor, left of the main lobby and just past the Pastoral Care offices.  Patients, families and visitors are welcome to visit this quiet space at any time.  The schedule for the celebration of the Eucharist is posted inside the chapel entrance.

Reading Material

Bibles and appropriate pamphlets are available upon request from any Chaplain or from the Pastoral Care office.

Access To Chaplains

Chaplains can be reached by requesting your nurse to make a referral on your behalf or by calling the switchboard operator by dialing "O".

Pastoral Care Offices

Secretary - 841-7134

8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Monday - Friday

Director - 841-7138

Chaplain - 841-3894

Associate Chaplain - 841-7139

Catholic Priest - 841-3831

Emergency - Dial "0"