Spiritual Care
At Mission Hospital, we truly believe in the importance of whole person care. Our dedication to spiritual care means we offer pastoral counseling, crisis intervention, prayer, bioethical decision-making support, and bereavement counseling.
In order to serve the spiritual needs of all our patients and their loved ones, our spiritual care team is specially trained to provide holistic spiritual care to persons of all faiths, including those without any religious affiliation. If you so choose, the team can contact your Priest, Rabbi, Minister, Imam, or lay minister upon request.
Our spiritual caregiving team is composed of highly trained interfaith chaplains who provide confidential and nonjudgmental support to individuals facing illness. Supporting these spiritual care providers are our Spiritual Care Volunteers. They serve together with the chaplains and are a caring and supportive presence for patients.
These men and women are educated professionals who understand how to apply their theological expertise to specific medical situations. Using their knowledge, they focus on helping patients understand the deeper spiritual meaning of suffering, sickness, health and wellness.
The Chapel is located off the lobby to the left of the front entrance of the building. All are welcome. Mass is celebrated at 2:00 p.m. every Thursday. The Chapel is open 24 hours a day.
Along with professional medical treatment, spiritual care services can provide much-needed support and peace of mind. Led by our chaplains, our services include:
This compassionate program gives the reassuring presence of a volunteer companion to dying patients to provide them with the most valuable gift: a dignified death. Mission Hospital believes in the intrinsic dignity of each person and makes sure someone is there to hold their hand or just keep them company in their final hours.
For people who have experienced the death of a loved one. This program is designed to inform, support, and assist individuals who are living with loss.
The advance directive “Five Wishes” is available for our patients and community who are interested in executing this document.
For our Catholic patients, we have Eucharistic Ministers who bring Holy Communion to those patients desiring this Sacrament. A priest is also readily available for the Sacrament of the Sick and Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Becoming a spiritual care volunteer consists of a 30-hour educational course that covers the following topics:
- Listening and responding appropriately to patients dealing with illness and loss
- Developing empathy, rather than sympathy, with role playing to develop patient visiting skills
- Acting as an interfaith spiritual care worker, respecting the individual religious convictions of patients, rather than preaching or trying to convert
- Visiting patients and receiving feedback on the quality of the visits
- Observing health and safety precautions, as well as guidelines for visiting
Applicants must be people of generosity and compassion who believe that spirituality is a necessary part of patient care. Those who successfully complete the training will receive a Spiritual Care Volunteer Certificate. Upon graduation, applicants must commit to 100 hours of patient visits, annually.
Please call us for more information: 949-364-1400, ext. 5399.