Contacting a hospital chaplain
A Chaplain's role is to provide pastoral/spiritual care. The concept of pastoral/spiritual care is that in having a person talk about themselves and their experiences, they will make a connection with their faith. The role of the Chaplain is to help people make that connection, and to help them develop their spiritual life. In a hospital setting the Chaplain meets with people who are involved in the experience of illness, whether it be patients, their families, staff, or volunteers, or the community.
Chaplaincy does not necessarily involve religious discussion, or the use of religious terms. The focus of Chaplaincy is on relationships and counselling and the service is offered to anyone, regardless of who they are, or how they view their life. Essentially, the Chaplain is trying to assist the patient to reach that point where they are satisfied that their own value system is working for them.
Chaplaincy has an inter-faith thrust that strives to put patients in touch with themselves and their faith and to seek peace with their circumstances.
Who should contact the Chaplain?
- patient/family
- staff (self or patient referral)
Method of contact:
Chaplaincy Department
Phone: 416-813-6620
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chaplain-On-Call
Phone: 416-232-4597
24 hours
Phones in Chapel and Meditation Room
Contact the Chaplain in the following situations:
- Patient or family request religious presence, pastoral or sacramental
- Patient or family indicates strong religious affiliation with any faith group
- Religious concerns or questions voiced by patient, family or staff, whether or not any religious affiliation noted
- Crisis, trauma, diagnosis or illness, where medical science is not likely to provide cure or consolation
- Occasions where religious traditions or teachings would help staff to understand and care for patient and family more compassionately
- Occasions where there is confusion or disagreement with patients and families because of the nature of religious beliefs or practices
- Ethical consultations with patients, families and staff from a theological perspective
- Wherever there is opportunity for incorporation of the spiritual into the healing process
- In any instance when staff feel that religious influence is being brought to bear upon the patient or family from an unsolicited source