Question of the Month

I know that your department has chaplains who make visits when people are hospitalized. What exactly do they do?  Are they members of religious communities?

Our hospital chaplains are an integral member of the healthcare team. One of their main roles is to minister to the spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs of patients and families by presence, prayer, counsel, and encouragement. They provide a full range of spiritual and emotional support for patients, family members, and their loved ones, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our chaplains are also available to help and support distressed families of critically ill or dying patients, and can provide objective crisis intervention. They also facilitate visitation from area clergy to members of their congregation who are hospitalized.

Two of our chaplains are members of religious communities: Sister Monica Mai of the Benedictine Community, and Sister Carolyn Wildrick of the Dominican Community. We also have three lay chaplains: John Bryant, David Lato, and Moira Kneer. Father Edmund Klimek has been the senior priest chaplain at Sacred Heart Hospital for over 42 years.

If you are hospitalized at Sacred Heart Hospital, you will most likely receive a visit from Father Klimek and/or another chaplain within the first 24 hours of your admission. If you wish to speak with a chaplain at any time during your stay, just ask your nurse to page the chaplain on call.

Our Pastoral Care Department is an extension of the mission of Sacred Heart Hospital and the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis. We are honored to continue the Hospital’s long and rich tradition of providing excellent and compassionate pastoral care to patients, their loved ones, our hospital staff and the community.