Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care staff is an integral part of patient care at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. They provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families of all faiths. This support is given through visiting, counseling, prayer, sacraments, memorial services and bereavement support.

Our Pastoral Care team is busy throughout every day and night of the week. They offer spiritual care to our patients and visitors as well as to our associates, regardless of religious affiliation. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for those who need them.

They are an integral part of carrying out our mission at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. They help us live our CHI Health St. Elizabeth values as well as those of Catholic Health Initiatives. They offer comfort for patients and families before and after surgeries, births or in any circumstances throughout their stay at the medical center. They are available for crisis intervention, grief counseling, ethical decision-making, sacramental ministry, prayer and worship.

They take part in Interdisciplinary Care Conferences, interface with medical staff and other departments and individuals, providing education, consultation and/or group facilitation. They also communicate regularly with other religious entities in our community. The Pastoral Care team is also responsible for a wide range of faith-based activities including celebrating Mass, thanks to Father Stephen Cooney.

Pastoral Care Visits

The Pastoral Care team at CHI Health St. Elizabeth is available to serve patients and their families according to their wishes and needs. Each patient area is visited daily by one of the Pastoral Care personnel. Pastoral visits can always be requested through the switchboard operator at CHI Health St. Elizabeth. There is a chaplain on-call at all times, 24 hours a day. At times, only a clergy member of one's own faith can answer special needs. The Pastoral Care staff is sensitive to this and will contact a patient's clergy of choice upon request.

Chapel

The CHI Health St. Elizabeth Chapel is located on the Third Level, across from the elevator, for personal meditation and worship. Families and visitors of all faiths are welcome to visit the chapel or the Meditation Room, located in the Lower Level, at any time during the day or night.

Catholic Mass

Mass is offered regularly in the CHI Health St. Elizabeth Chapel. Mass times are as follows:

• Monday - Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
• Friday at 11:30 a.m.
• Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
• Sunday at 8:00 a.m.

The Mass is also televised on the Hospital TV, Channel 13.

Sacraments

Communion is distributed daily to Catholic patients wishing to receive this Sacrament. Confession and Anointing of the Sick is available upon request to all Catholic patients.

Memorial Services

CHI Health St. Elizabeth Pastoral Care offers Interfaith Memorial prayer services three times a year for former patients who have died. The families and friends of adults who were patients at CHI Health St. Elizabeth will receive an invitation but others are welcome. Special memorial services are also offered for infant loss. Pastoral Care staff is available 24 hours a day. They may be reached at (402) 219-7394 or (402) 219-8118.