Catholic chaplains provide a compassionate presence and spiritual care to thousands of Victorians in hospitals, prisons and youth justice centres, and those living with HIV/AIDS. This month, CatholicCare Victoria is launching the 2022 Chaplaincy Appeal, with Chaplaincy Sunday to take place on 13 February.
The Chaplaincy Appeal highlights the vital work and mission of hospital chaplains, to ensure they can continue to support patients and their families and offer hope at the darkest of times; times of pain, uncertainty, stress and fear.
For patients and families, the presence of a hospital chaplain offers someone to listen, to speak openly and discuss thoughts and worries, to pray with, to sit silently with and help find a sense of calm, and to provide comfort through times of loss and grief. Knowing that there is someone to sit with you or your loved one to provide emotional, spiritual or sacramental support offers comfort and reassurance, particularly when family visits aren’t possible due to COVID-19 safety measures in hospitals.
Even when family visits aren’t possible, hospital chaplains are there to be a guiding light for patients and families. As CatholicCare Victoria hospital chaplain Jim says:
Hospital chaplains, we are there for the spiritual and emotional health and support of the patient and their families at difficult times; times where there is stress and fear. A Chaplain is someone who can listen, and patiently assist and guide.’
CatholicCare chaplains support thousands of Victorians every year. CatholicCare chaplains support patients and families in their time of need regardless of their spiritual or religious belief or background.
In 2021, CatholicCare Victoria’s hospital chaplains provided 4,682 episodes of care across eight major public hospitals including The Royal Melbourne, The Royal Women’s, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s, Northern Health, Alfred Health, Monash Health, and Barwon Health University Hospital Geelong.
This Chaplaincy Sunday, 13 February, and throughout the month of February, we need your support to ensure our chaplains can continue their mission.
- To support the work of CatholicCare Victoria chaplains, please donate online or through your local parish on the weekend of 13 February.
- Click here to learn more about CatholicCare Victoria’s hospital chaplaincy service.
