ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital

Department - Chaplaincy/Pastoral Care
Service
When patients are admitted to hospital in need of healing for a physical or emotional illness, they often bring
with them other concerns that range over the psychological and spiritual dimensions of their lives. Being
aware of their many concerns the Chaplaincy Department responds at different levels:
• In the administration of the sacraments and in providing appropriate spiritual care and counselling to
patients.
• The need for this care is acutely felt at times of great anxiety such as major surgery and especially
terminal illness.
• Much time is spent with families of patients, supporting those shattered by the terminal illness of those
closest to them and later in consoling the bereaved.
• The Chaplaincy Department continues to provide a twenty-four hour service in the hospital. The team
consists of three full time Roman Catholic priests, five part time priests, one Church of Ireland ordained
Minister, three chaplains from the Religious Sisters of Charity and two lay chaplains. The Department
is very fortunate to have over forty lay volunteers who serve as Ministers of the Eucharist and assist in
bringing the Blessed Sacrament to patients on a daily basis.
During the past year the chaplains attended at over seven hundred deaths and made 60-80 pre-operation
visits per week to patients who had requested a visit. Added to these were the pastoral visits made on a
daily basis to the wards.
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