September 10, 2003
Bringing the comfort of Christ to those who need it most
By Liesl Fores

Administering the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (here, the hands) is a very common and important responsibility of hospital chaplains.

“They are the living hands and heart of Jesus in their ministry,” said Father Robert E. Templeton, Archdiocesan Executive Director of Clergy Personnel. Who is he referring to? The chaplains, ministers and pastoral staff at 31 hospitals, both Catholic and non-Catholic, within the Archdiocese of Newark.

The priests, deacons and Sisters who serve in the Archdiocese’s hospital ministry “continue the healing ministry of Jesus,” Father Templeton said, by offering spiritual support and counseling, opportunity to receive the sacraments, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen—a friendship that so many patients, whether their stay be long-term or short-term, need at this very often difficult time in their lives.

This help is also extended to hospital staff and families of patients as well, to advise on the emotional well-being of patients and to lend moral support to family members who are concerned for a loved one, need to make decisions regarding life support or are grieving a death.

“It’s an overall ministry, not just to the patients in their beds. The hospital becomes [ministers’] parish,” Father Templeton noted.

Assigning ministers
As director of Clergy Personnel, Father Templeton is in charge of the hospital ministry, and particularly the assigning of archdiocesan priests and Religious to the medical facilities. Father Venantius M. Fernando, Director of Adjunct Clergy Personnel, heads up the chaplaincy of adjunct priests (assigned to the United States from other countries). Priests are appointed as chaplains, deacons as ministers and Sisters, Brothers or lay people as pastoral staff members.

Available positions are coordinated by Clergy Personnel, and any clergy or Religious can apply. (Lay positions and volunteers are coordinated by individual hospital pastoral care departments.) Priests are sometimes asked to take on this position or assigned on a part time basis. Very often, too, says Father Templeton, parish priests will visit their parishioners who are in the hospital, though these priests are not considered to be “on staff” there.

“Sacramental care” is a very important part of hospital ministry. It usually involves bringing Holy Communion to patients in their rooms (this can be done by any Eucharistic Minister, on the pastoral staff or a volunteer), hearing confession and Anointing of the Sick, the latter two of which are administered upon request by chaplains. Most hospitals also have a chapel or a room where Mass can be celebrated on a daily basis.

However, there is much more to this ministry. “When people become ill, it’s an automatic, human tendency to turn to God,” said Father Alan F. Guglielmo, full time chaplain at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark, suggesting that patients see chaplains, ministers and pastoral staff as an “open gate.”

“People expect us—the Church—to be there,” he asserted.

“Hospital ministry is necessary and important because in these moments, [patients] are going through sickness and pain, moments of anxiety and fear…This is a time when they need reinforcement in their life. They need to be strengthened and consoled, somebody to whom they can share and talk with,” commented Father Thomas Thayaril, full time chaplain at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck.

Seeking God
Concurring with Father Guglielmo on the essential spiritual aspect of the counseling and support that chaplains, ministers and pastoral staff provide to patients, Father Thayaril continued, “They reflect more on their life, because they are away from their families and their everyday life…Maybe some people—I’ve seen this—have been away from the Church and God, and now they want to come back.” And this is where all members of hospital ministry come in: to “offer help and clarification” for them to “come back” to God.

Sister Mary Corrigan, S.C., full time pastoral staff member at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, describes hospital ministry as “giving emotional and spiritual support.”

“Many times during illness, people’s emotional and spiritual needs heighten, along with their physical needs. This is a ministry of presence—being available and there in their time of need,” she stressed. Fostering “inner strength,” and “showing them where God is in this situation” are vital to “beginning the healing process.”

Sister Mary pointed out that sometimes patients get in touch with personal issues and “look at their emotional and spiritual needs—something they may not do or feel comfortable doing with a family members…They tell us their stories,” she said, adding that everything discussed is strictly confidential.

Being in education as a teacher and administrator for 32 years and enjoying it greatly, Sister Mary acknowledged that she found something extra she was looking for in hospital pastoral care. “It’s a very sacred place to be, with people in their time of need…It’s extremely rewarding and spiritually uplifting,” she emphasized.

At Trinitas, all members of the pastoral staff do “rotations,” in which they each visit different wards and are able to “get the different experiences,” Sister explained. Besides seeing patients in oncology, cardiac, renal, and pediatrics departments, among others, they also get to visit the maternity ward. “We rejoice in new births,” she assured.

“We see ourselves as a very intricate part of the Catholic health care system,” concluded Sister Mary.

Father Michael Onyekwere, who became involved in hospital ministry in his seminary days as part of his seminary apostolate, is full time chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken. He depicted the relationship between mind and body, explaining how hospital ministry very often helps patients heal physically by caring for them spiritually, emotionally and psychologically.

“When your mind is not right, counseling helps,” he said, indicating in particular patients’ anxieties over their illnesses and at the same time over their relationship with God. When one experiences spiritual and emotional healing, “medical treament becomes more effective.”

Some members of hospital pastoral care complete extensive training programs (Clinical Pastoral Education, CPE) that enable them to deal with the many spiritual, emotional and psychological issues that arise when patients face illness and death. All are encouraged to study further, once they are assigned to medical facilities.

Father Guglielmo is the Coordinator for Continuing Education for hospital pastoral staff members. Workshops covering topics and themes relevant to this ministry usually take place four times a year. Beginning in the winter of 2004, the workshops will resume; all pastoral staff members are invited to attend.

In order to maximize the value and effectiveness of the workshops, a committee comprised of a cross section of knowledgeable and experienced people in this field has been assembled to assist and advise Father Guglielmo. Committee members include chaplains at hospices, pastoral associates and members of parish nursing, among others.

Most of the 31 hospitals with a pastoral staff in the Archdiocese have at least one full time Catholic chaplain, and many have additional staff members. Pastoral care departments try to provide 24 hour-seven day service, usually having someone on call during off hours. There are also clergy members of other religions who are on staff in some of the medical facilities or who make visits on a part time basis.

A common policy is to visit all patients, Catholic or non-Catholic, within 24 hours of their arrival. After this initial visit, they return as scheduling permits (if not specifically requested) and always if requested by the patient, medical staff or a family member.

Often nurses or other hospital staff note a decline in a patient’s spirits or deterioration in his or her emotional state and ask a chaplain, minister of pastoral staff member to pay a visit to the person in question.

Their presence may also be requested during a “critical care situation” in which a patient is dying or experiencing some other crisis. In all cases, family members very often need support as well as the patients—counseling and prayers are always offered to them. This type of “outreach” is very important, stressed Sister Mary, especially with cases of terminal patients “because people are never prepared for death.”

These services are offered to non-Catholic patients as well. However, pastoral care coordinators try to arrange visits for people of other faiths with their own clergy, especially if this request is made.

Financial issue
While one-third of the hospitals in the Archdiocese with a pastoral staff pays in full for costs, and another percentage pays partially, the rest pay nothing, something that Father Templeton is trying to change with the hospital ministry task force.

According to the director, the cost for just one full time chaplain is about $40,000; this includes salary, medical benefits, pension, car expenses and a living allowance. Whatever is not reimbursed by the medical facility is paid by the Archdiocese. “Our goal is to get all hospitals to reimburse fully, because we’re providing a service,” he stated.

Because of the “financial strain” to the Archdiocese lately, this project is crucial. “If not, we’ll have to start ‘relooking’ at how hospital chaplaincy is provided,” Father Templeton admitted.

“We visit the sick, bury the dead, provide comfort, forgive. Like Jesus sending out His apostles…it is the responsibility of every priest to care for the sick,” summed up Father Onyekwere.