Spiritual & Religious Care

Who we are

Our role is to compassionately assist patients and families to transcend challenges and find meaning in the experience of illness and hospitalization. In sharing a common humanity, we assist patients and families to be at peace with the challenges and circumstances they may experience while in hospital.  

To better serve the diversity within our patient and staff population, we are committed to diversity within our department. The Spiritual & Religious Care Department provides interfaith spiritual counselling, support, prayer and sacramental rites as well as simple human presence. 

We have a deep respect for the experience of patients, their families, and the staff who serve them, and promote the values of kindness, compassion, respect, integrity, and inclusion.  

While in hospital patients, their families, and staff may experience existential stress, moral distress, and a sense of futility and loss in the face of ongoing health challenges.  One-on-one counselling with a member of our team has the potential to be a very supportive and effective resource for patients, their families, and staff to be at peace with their circumstances and nurture the healing process of body,  mind, and spirit.

What we do 

The Spiritual & Religious Care Team provides:  

• Healing, compassionate and comforting presence through bedside visits and private counsel by request  
• Mindfulness and loving kindness meditation which supports well-being while in the hospital  
• Support for smudging  
• Prayers at bedside  
• Baptism  
• Kosher food and Sabbath supplies  
• Counseling  
• Ethical questions related to faith  
• Deep listening, and attending at bedside  
• Journeying with families through the dying process  
• A liaison to bereavement and palliative care services  
• Assistance to patients and families to maintain connection to one’s faith while in the hospital  
• Spiritual Care Provider on-call as needed  
• Spiritual Care Providers accommodating specific faith (limited availability): Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Christian  
• By request, a liaison to faith communities protecting families from solicitation during times of vulnerability  
• Acting as a bridge or advocate with the clinical care team  
• An advocate for cultural customs, language (interpreter services) and beliefs

Sacred spaces

These spaces are open 24/7 for quiet prayer, contemplation, refuge and meditation. They are open to patients, families, and staff.

The Mindfulness Project

Compassionate care, mindful culture.

The Mindfulness Project is an integral part of Spiritual & Religious Care, nurturing resilience, inner self-acceptance, healing, and empowerment. 

Mindfulness at bedside

For Patients, Families and Caregivers

This resource is wonderful for managing pain, anxiety, loneliness, and an inability to sleep.  A great comfort and is especially suitable for families who may be spiritual but not particularly religious. Practices are guided and taught so that families can do these on their own for self-care and to bring a sense of balance back into their lives.  

 Mindfulness resources