'Central to the delivery of health care in the Catholic ministry is the virtue of caritas - that special love of others which characterised Christ'

'Being a Catholic Hospital, CHA 2004'

Pastoral services play an integral role in our Catholic health, community and aged care facilities - a role that lies at the heart of a holistic approach to healing which encompasses the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Through ritual, prayer, reflection, a gentle compassionate presence or a shared silence, today's pastoral practitioners become a face of human comfort and healing.

Pastoral Services provide

• Spiritual and emotinal support to residents, families and staff
• A sensitive, caring presence
• Being in touch with individual's personal journey
• Accompanying people as they tell and reflect on their story
• A presence of faith seeking understanding
• One to one support

They provide this by:

• compassion, empathy, respect
• confidentiality
• being a gentle presence
• being available to patients/residents/clients regardless of religious affiliation
• ritual prayer and liturgy

Facilities will differ in the makeup of their pastoral services team but teams will include members of the following:

• Designated pastoral practitioners - paid employees with pastoral and theological background and training
• Chaplains - who represent a specific denomination and deliver pastoral services on behalf of their religious dnomination to members of their denomination
• Volunteers who are trained for a specific area of ministry for example miniters of Communion, pastoral visiting.

'Pastoral Services in Catholic Health, Community & Aged Care Contemporary Practice Catholic Health Australia' 2010

When visiting or staying at anyone of our facilities ask the nursing staff in your area to contact the Pastoral Care Services and the Pastoral Care practitioner will be able to help you with your needs and inquiry into Chapel location and church service times.