Spiritual and Pastoral Care
Caring for the spiritual and religious needs of patients, relatives and staff is the main focus of the chaplaincy team. Talking to individuals, sharing in their pains and joys and responding appropriately with counselling, prayer, the sacraments or just a listening ear is at the heart of our ministry.
The chapel, named after St Benedict Biscop, is open daily. On Mondays at 1.15 p.m. there is a Eucharist to which everyone is invited. On the first Wednesday of the month, at 3.00 p.m. we hold a remembrance service in the chapel for the bereaved, whose relatives have been involved with the hospice or the community specialist palliative care teams. In the short service, names and messages are written on prayer cards and offered on the altar. There is also an opportunity to look at the names in the Book of Remembrance, which is kept in the chapel. At 3:30 pm, after the service there is a time to share with others the difficulty of bereavement over a cup of tea. Relatives can choose whether they wish to attend both the service and the support group or just one part of the afternoon.
The leaflet, "You and your children" (226K PDF)
suggests ways in which we offer support to children whose parents are patients in the hospice. An annual Remembrance Service is held in January, usually at St Benet's Church at Monkwearmouth.
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Chaplain: Rev'd Caroline Worsfold