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 have launched the 2022 Chaplaincy Appeal* highlighting the vital work and mission of our 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, our Hospital Chaplains are there to be a guiding light for patients and families.
As 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.”
Jim
CatholicCare Victoria Hospital Chaplain
Our chaplains are there to support patients and families in their time of need regardless of their spiritual or religious belief or background.
Our Chaplains support thousands of Victorians every year. In FY21, 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, we need your support to ensure our Chaplains can continue their mission.
Your support and generosity enable our Chaplains to continue to help people find comfort and hope as they go through some of their darkest hours and times of need.
To support our Chaplains, donate online.
Or donate in your local parish (Archdiocese of Melbourne) on the weekend of 13 February.
DONATE NOW
To learn more about CatholicCare Victoria’s Hospital Chaplaincy service, click here.
“When I was sick, you took care of me,
and when I was in jail, you visited me.”
- Matthew 25:36
*The Chaplaincy Appeal and Chaplaincy Sunday were previously run in May, but will run in February from this year onwards.
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