Spiritual Care

Location: 1st floor, adjacent to Lobby

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. seven days a week

Information: Mass Schedule: 410-337-1109

The Spiritual Care Department of University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center provides loving service and compassionate care in the Franciscan tradition. Spiritual care for all of our patients, families and staff focuses on the spiritual aspects of wellness, illness, recovery, medical care, ethical decisions, dying and death. All religious traditions are held sacred. An ecumenical staff of chaplains, gifted for spiritual ministry, offers spiritual care to all. Spiritual care team members visit patients on a regular basis. They can be contacted through the nursing staff or by calling the Spiritual Care office at 410-337-1109.

Services

Many patients who come to University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center have a tradition of faith that is very important to them. Our goal is to honor those traditions while they are here. We welcome and honor all faith traditions, Christian as well as non-Christian.

We approach the care of our patients from a holistic perspective—we believe the well-being of the patient may be helped through conversation, prayer, meditation, music, ritual, and spiritual care services. Our ecumenical staff of chaplains is available as a resource for patients and their families during times of waiting, diagnosis and decision-making, in times of joy, pain and grief, in anxiety and fear, in searching for meaning and as a comforting presence.

Chaplains visit patients on a regular basis. A chaplain may be contacted through the nursing staff, or by calling the Spiritual Care Department at x1109.

Roman Catholic Services:

Mass
Mass is offered daily in our chapel and may be viewed on the television in the patient's room. A schedule of the times of Mass is provided in each patient's WELCOME folder.

Anointing of the Sick
This sacrament brings comfort, peace and a healing sense of supportive, prayerful presence for the patient and family members. This service is available upon request by calling the Spiritual Care Department, x1109.

Eucharist
Communion is offered daily to all Catholic patients by extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available upon request by calling x1109.

Other Faith Traditions/Cultures:

The staff of the Spiritual Care Department will be happy to contact a clergy person of the patient's faith tradition if requested. Shabbat candles are available for Jewish patients upon request.

Chapel and Adjacent Areas

The St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, dedicated in loving memory of Carmen J. and Theresa R. Deyesu, is located on floor one of the medical center, opposite the elevators. All are welcome to use the chapel for quiet personal prayer. The meditation garden, adjacent to the chapel, is a quiet area for prayer and reflection. The Interfaith Room is located near the information desk, across from the chapel. All are welcome to use this non-denominational space for prayer and reflection.

Additional Services Available

To learn more about these services, contact the Spiritual Care Department at 410-337-1109.

Memorial Mass

Twice a year, Mass is celebrated in memory of patients who have died in the hospital. Family and friends will be notified and invited to attend.

Pregnancy Loss Memorial Service

Twice a year, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center holds a memorial service and burial at a local cemetery for those who have suffered a fetal/pregnancy loss at any stage of a pregnancy. Family and friends are welcome to attend. This optional service is offered at no cost to the family. Nurses in the Labor and Delivery Unit can offer information to each family.