Spiritual Care Services at Mary Immaculate Hospital

Our Goal

As a faith-based facility, Mary Immaculate Hospital honors the religious, spiritual and cultural preferences of all patients with dignity and respect.  We encourage pastoral visits from your own clergy.  Or, our chaplains are always available and seek to empower individuals with a personal sense of meaning, value, purpose and transcendent connection with God. 

Sacred Spaces
The Chapel, located on the first floor at the main entrance of the hospital, is open twenty-four hours a day.  You are welcome to come and pray and spend some time apart with your God.

The Reflection Garden is located opposite the ICU Waiting Room.

Reaching a Chaplain
A Chaplain may be reached by asking a nurse or by DIALING “0” and asking the hospital operator to page the Chaplain-On-Call.

Worship Opportunities

For Catholic Patients:
Catholic Mass is televised on Channel 21 on Sunday (3:00PM) and Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (11:00AM).
Lay Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to Catholic parents at bedside daily.

For Interdenominational Patients:
Interdenominational Communion calls are made upon patient request. Chaplains are most willing to provide bedside services to patients who are bed bound.

Our Daily Services

MIH Chaplains:

• Offer patient and family visitation;
• Provide availability twenty-four hours an day, seven days a week;
• ssess individual patient spiritual needs;
• Collaborate with medical team regarding patient care planning;
• Respond to physician, staff, family and clergy referrals for spiritual care;
• Offer pastoral presence and support for patients and families facing uncertainty regarding medical procedures;
• Work with crisis interventions;
• Respond to ethical concerns and questions via participation in Ethic Consultations;
• Complete spiritual assessments for Palliative Care Consultations;
• Provide spiritual care literature as needed or upon request;
• Use therapeutic music;
• Provide aromatherapy per patient request;
• Provide group and individual guided imagery;
• Address spiritual pain issues.

Support Programs

S.H.A.R.E. Perinatal Loss Support
Individual and group bereavement counseling is offered to grieving patients/couples who have lost a child shortly before or after birth.
For information call (757) 886-6790

Guided Imagery For Wellness
Chaplains invite folks to come and enjoy an hour of relaxation and peace.  Guided Imagery will be offered on an individual basis.
For information call (757) 886-6791

Good Help For Hurting Hearts
Confidential individual and/or group support is available for persons who may be hurting spiritually or emotionally from participation in a past abortion. 
For information call (757) 886-6364

Advance Medical Directives
Upon admission to the hospital, patients are asked, if they have made decisions about granting authority to others to speak for them regarding their medical care should they not be able to speak for themselves.  These decisions come in the form of “Living Will” and/or “Medical Power of Attorney For Health Care.”  A Chaplain will gladly answer your questions pertaining to Advance Medical Care Planning and help you execute a directive should you desire.  This service is free and requires no notary.

Download the Virginia Advance Medical Directive form (PDF)

Special Events

Grief During The Holidays
This presentation is held at various holiday times during the year to help families deal with the loss of their loved one(s).
For more information call (757) 886-6790

Annual Memorial Service
This service is held close to the end if the year, so that loved ones may “celebrate the lives” of loved ones who died during the past year.
For more information call (757) 886-6790