Letter to the Editor: Thank a chaplain during Spiritual Care Week Oct. 20-26

Spiritual Care Week, also known as Pastoral Care Week, provides an opportunity to thank spiritual care providers in our communities – specifically chaplains. These men and women provide a much-needed service in our hospitals, nursing homes and correctional facilities 

At Blessing Hospital, our chaplains, most of whom are volunteers, provide spiritual care and emotional support to patients and families during some of the worst moments of their lives. This hardworking team is trained to provide care to people from all backgrounds, no matter their religious and spiritual beliefs or lack thereof.

Chaplains pray with distraught patients after a difficult diagnosis, support families who have lost a loved one and help families celebrate the birth of a child by baptizing them, to name just a few things. Whatever the need – a copy of the Qur’an for a patient to read, an anointing in the middle of the night or just a hand to hold – our chaplains rise to the occasion to meet it. 

Because Blessing Hospital offers spiritual care around-the-clock every day of the year, it is not uncommon for our chaplains to be called away from a family dinner or awakened in the middle of the night to tend to a patient in need. No matter how exhausting or disruptive their shift may have been, our chaplains never complain. They understand the importance of their presence to our patients and are driven by their compassion and generosity.

During my time here, many chaplains have sat in my office and wept over the losses of your loved ones because of how deeply they care. When your hearts break, theirs do too. When you celebrate, they cheer alongside you. They bear a heavy burden and are willing to do so because they see the need for their presence in the lives of our patients, visitors and staff.

During Spiritual Care Week, as you visit grandma in the nursing home or bring flowers to a hospitalized friend, take a moment to think of the chaplain who might be providing care for your loved one. Find a chaplain and thank them for all they do for our communities. Their compassionate care is making a difference. 

If you are interested in volunteering as a chaplain, chaplain assistant or communion minister at Blessing Hospital, apply or find more information at https://www.blessinghealth.org/volunteer.

Prudence Bickhaus Martin
Spiritual Care Program Supervisor, Blessing Hospital
Quincy, Illinois