Spiritual Care

People facing illness often seek spiritual support. At Providence Saint John’s Health Center, chaplains of many faiths are available to provide that support. While we are a Catholic organization, we truly believe in the importance of faith in healing and seek to serve the spiritual needs of all our patients.

For some people, spirituality is rooted in a specific religious tradition. For others, it embraces many viewpoints and philosophies. Chaplains believe every human life is sacred and valuable and that spiritual exploration with a chaplain or a person’s clergy can offer wholeness and peace.

Whatever your beliefs may be, chaplains can help with spiritual and ethical questions. Chaplains provide nonjudgmental, confidential support for patients, family and friends. They work with people of all religious faiths, as well as those who have no faith tradition. The chaplains of Providence Saint John’s have received advanced education, training and national board certification. They serve as members of the health care team, complementing the healing work of physicians, nurses, therapists and other health care professionals.

Emotional and spiritual care play important roles in medical settings. Evidence shows religious beliefs and spirituality enhance the body’s healing systems. You may request prayer or to speak with a chaplain at any time. Or, if you prefer, we can contact a minister, priest, rabbi, imam or other spiritual leader for you. People often seek spiritual support when confronting significant life situations:

Medical diagnosis: If you are dealing with a new or life-changing diagnosis or chronic illness, or if you are anxious about an upcoming surgery or medical treatment
Ethical and end-of-life issues: If you face ethical decisions related to medical treatment for yourself or a loved one, if you want to know how your beliefs affect your medical care or if you need help with an advance directive
Grief: If you are experiencing grief over the death of a loved one or the loss of health, a job or other significant facet of life
Changes: If you are struggling with changes in your life and relationships, your abilities or your roles, or if you are facing new limits and possibilities
Unresolved spiritual issues: If you have feelings such as guilt, shame or fear; conflicts in your belief system; feelings of abandonment; loss of hope; or difficulty with forgiving or feeling forgiven.

Some of the services offered by Spiritual Care include:

Chaplain availability 24 hours/day
Chapel open to all on the 4th floor
Catholic Mass and sacraments (Communion, Reconciliation, Sacrament of the Sick)
Meditation room available on the 1st floor
Religious services broadcast on closed-circuit television
Spiritual reading material available through chaplains
Chapel simulcast to patient rooms on Monday and Wednesdays called Words of Comfort and Hope

For more information or to contact a chaplain call 310-829-8500.