Pastoral Care

At Morristown Memorial Hospital, we care for the whole person, body, mind and spirit. The Department of Pastoral Care offers spiritual care to all patients and families.

A hospitalization can initiate a spectrum of emotions, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, questions of faith, frustration or the need for prayer. Chaplains are here to listen to you with compassion and understanding. They help sort through feelings and concerns that surface during a hospital stay, and address fears, disappointing diagnoses, stress and unresolved feelings.

Whatever you are feeling, a chaplain can be present to listen to your concerns. Chaplains support patients, families, loved ones and staff through emotional and spiritual journeys with complete confidentiality.

Request a Visit from a Chaplain:

• Call or visit the Pastoral Care office
• Ask a nurse to request a chaplain for you

Visiting Clergy

Your own clergy are welcome to visit you while you are in the hospital. It is recommended that you let your clergy and/or congregation know that you are here. Upon your request, the Pastoral Care office will be happy to notify them for you.

Interfaith Chapel

Our chapel is located just off of the main lobby; it is open at all times. Special services are posted on the board outside of the chapel and prayer requests may be left in the chapel.

Patients, family, visitors and staff are invited to attend a daily interfaith prayer service at 11:30am in the chapel on Simon 1; service can also be seen on Channel 12 in hospital patient rooms.

Pastoral Care for Patients and Visitors

Catholic: Patients may attend Mass with their doctor’s permission; daily Mass is held:

• Monday through Friday at Noon in the chapel (Channel 12 on hospital TV)
  
• Sunday at Noon in the Malcolm Forbes Auditorium on Level B

Communion is typically brought to all patients who are registered as Catholic on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings by Eucharistic Minister volunteers. To request daily Communion or a priest to administer the Sacrament of the Sick and Reconciliation (Confession), please call the Pastoral Care office. Roman Catholic deacons also serve the hospital as volunteers providing pre-operation visits to patients who are in the hospital.

Jewish: Kosher meals are available for patients through our food service department. A rabbi and a Jewish chaplain are at the hospital several days each week and visit all Jewish patients. A Shabbat Room is available for family members, if needed, every Friday. A Shabbat elevator runs every Friday from 3:00pm through Saturday at 9:00pm. It is the Franklin elevator numbered 5 and indicated with a sign.

Muslim: Prayer mats are available in the chapel.

Non-Religious: Many people do not follow a specific religion, yet feel the need for a listening ear or a comforting presence. Please call the Pastoral Care office for any assistance you might need in meeting your needs while you are in the hospital.

Other Traditions: Please call the Pastoral Care office for any assistance you might need in meeting your spiritual needs while you are in the hospital.

Protestant: Chaplains are available to provide comfort, support and prayers. Protestant chaplains also provide communion at the request of the patient – please allow one day’s notice if possible.

In an Emergency

Chaplains are available from 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. There are no evening hours except for the Diocese of Paterson Catholic priests who administer the Sacrament of the Sick.

Religious Literature

Hospital room Bibles are provided to the hospital by the Gideons International. We also have devotional booklets and CareNotes on a variety of topics available. If you need a prayer book or scriptures of a specific religion or language, the Pastoral Care office will try to locate one for you.

Donations

The services of the Pastoral Care Department are provided free of charge to patients and families. We are funded by Morristown Memorial Hospital with support from the Diocese of Paterson, by the Jewish Federation of MetroWest and by the Protestant Chaplaincy Board.
Learn more about donating.