Pastoral Care
At CHRISTUS Health, our Pastoral Care Team is committed to offering spiritual care to patients, families, friends, staff and the community. This is true especially during times of illness and hospitalization. Our full-time Chaplains are professionally board certified and clinically trained to provide ecumenical support. The chaplains are assisted by volunteers who have been equipped to address various emotional and spiritual needs that arise.
We believe acknowledging the human spiritual nature of our patients is a vital component of our healing ministry. A "holistic" view of patient care attends to the body, mind, and spirit. We respect the patient's viewpoint and are sensitive to the unique spiritual needs of each person we serve. The Pastoral Care Team leads the effort to assure this aspect of care is honored. We serve all patients and families regardless of faith or affiliation. Additionally, our hospital chapel is located on the third floor near the women’s care unit across from the family waiting room. Two private prayer/meditation rooms are also available in the chapel. The Pastoral Care Volunteer’s office/bereavement room is located just outside the emergency center. To use this room, call the patient care supervisor or notify the emergency center staff.
Our staff, chaplains and volunteers are always ready to offer support to the spiritual well-being of our patients and their friends and family. Our ministry includes, but is not limited to:
- Spiritual and emotional support
- Prayer
- Grief and loss counseling
- End of life issues
- Information about Advance Directives
- Help in dealing with worries, fears, questions, or pain
- Help with ethical concerns, values, and decisions
- Support during times of crisis or emergency situations
- Family team conferences
- Providing Sacraments or religious services as appropriate
- Pastoral counseling
- Worship services
Contact Us
During your stay, trained chaplains are available for support, however, chaplains are available for you and your family. If you would like to visit with someone about spiritual or emotional concerns, please ask a nursing staff member to contact the chaplain or volunteer on call. You may also request spiritual support from us by way of the following resources:
cghs.chaplain@christushealth.org
eChaplaincy
CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital - Longview: 903-315-2636
CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Hospital - Marshall: 903-927-6015
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What do chaplains do?
Chaplains are trained to assist persons using spiritual and religious resources, in times of wellness and crisis. Chaplains are members of the interdisciplinary team, documenting their ministry in the patients chart for the holistic care of patients and families.
After a spiritual screening by the admission nurse, Chaplains can provide a spiritual assessment as well as:
- Meaningful prayer, scriptural ritual or sacramental experiences as resources for healing
- Access to websites and “apps” related to health and healing
- Connection to faith communities
- Palliative care consultation
- Advance care planning and completion of related forms
- End of life care
- Grief and bereavement support
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When to contact a Chaplain?
- When someone appears to need consolation
- When family members appear to need emotional or spiritual support
- At the request of any patient or family member
- When a family is thankful for good news
- When a patient may be ready for palliative care
- When a patient appears anxious or fearful of treatment
- When difficult medical decisions need to be made
- When religious beliefs appear to conflict with health care needs
- When patients must adapt to lifestyle changes related to a diagnosis
- Before a serious surgery or procedure
- Before advance care planning and completion of Advance Directives
- When a serious change occurs in the patient condition
- For conflict mediation
- When a patient may be ready for hospice care
- When a patient care team conference is needed as death nears, or after death
- When organ donation is being requested
- When clinical staff members are struggling with personal and professional stress