CHAPLAINCY

Reasons to call a chaplain

Reasons for an MGH Employee to Contact a Chaplain

• You want information on a patient's religious tradition in order to provide culturally competent care
• You have religious/ethical questions
• You wish to arrange for a memorial service for a deceased colleague or special patient
• You have spiritual concerns

 

For a listing of ways that chaplains can be helpful for patients/families with faith-specific needs, please see below:

Roman Catholic (Beeper 27301)

• End of life/Beginning of Life decisions
• Roman Catholic perspectives on medical decision making
• Sacraments: Baptism, Marriage, Sacrament of the Sick [Anointing] (formerly known as “last rites,”) Sacrament of Reconciliation (i.e. Confession,) Communion
• Spiritual Distress
• Request to see the Catholic chaplain

 

Interfaith (Beeper 27303)

• Request for prayer
• Request to receive a Bible
• End of life/beginning of life decisions
• Blessing, dedication, and/or baptism of infants
• Denominational perspectives on medical decision making
• Sacraments and Rites (baptism, marriage, communion, anointing)
• Spiritual Distress
• Request to see a clergy person from a particular religious tradition

 

Buddhist (Beeper 30464)

• Request for guided meditation, chanting, or reading of sacred texts
• Buddhist perspectives on medical decision-making
• Staff request cultural/religious consult in order to provide culturally competent care
• Counsel regarding Buddhist death practices
• Spiritual distress
• Patient or family member requests marriage performed in the hospital
• Request to see a Buddhist chaplain

 

Muslim (617-365-7427)

• Request for reading of Quran (Koran) or for prayer
• Request for prayer timetable
• Muslim perspectives on medical decision making
• Staff request cultural/religious consult in order to provide culturally competent care
• Arrangements for religious dietary needs
• Consultation on Muslim death practices
• Spiritual Distress
• Patient or family member requests marriage performed in the hospital
• Request to see an Imam

 

Jewish (Beeper 27306)

• Request for Hebrew Bible
• Jewish perspectives on medical decision making
• Kosher food
• Sabbath candles or other Sabbath concerns
• Passover meal
• Spiritual distress
• Patient or family member requests marriage performed in the hospital
• Staff request cultural/religious consult in order to provide culturally competent care
• Consultation on Jewish death practices
• Request to see a Rabbi