Pastoral Care

The Department of Pastoral Care at Morristown Medical Center offers spiritual care to all patients and families. Hospitalization can spur a wide range of emotions, from anxiety and depression to frustration and loneliness. Chaplains are here to listen to you and your loved ones with compassion and understanding. They help you sort through concerns that surface during a hospital stay to address your fears, stress and unresolved feelings. To request a visit from one of our chaplains, call or visit the Pastoral Care office or 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. The Pastoral Care office will be happy to notify your congregation and your clergy that you are in the hospital upon your request.

Interfaith Chapel

Our chapel is located just off of the main lobby and is open at all times. Patients, family, visitors and staff are invited to attend a daily interfaith prayer service at 11:30am in the chapel on Simon 1. This service can also be seen on Channel 12 in patient rooms. Special services are posted on the board outside of the chapel and prayer requests may be left in the chapel.

Pastoral Care for Patients and Visitors

• Catholic: Patients may attend Mass with their doctor’s permission. Mass is offered Monday through Friday at noon in the chapel (Channel 12 on the hospital TV) and at noon on Sunday 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 to request 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.
  
  
• Protestant: Chaplains are available to provide comfort, support and prayers. Protestant chaplains also provide communion at the request of the patient. Please provide one day’s notice if possible when requesting in-room communion.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Non-Religious: Many people do not participate in specific faith practices, yet feel the need for a listening ear or a comforting presence. The Pastoral Care office can arrange for a chaplain to visit with you at your request.

In an Emergency

Chaplains are available from 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. Catholic priests from the Diocese of Paterson administer the Sacrament of the Sick in the evening several days a week.

Religious Literature

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

Donations

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