Pastoral Care Services

OSF St. Mary Medical Center is dedicated to seeing that every patient is treated with the greatest care and love. One way we provide that type of service is through our Pastoral Care Department. The mission of our Pastoral Care Department is to see that all patients are visited by members of the pastoral care staff as soon as possible after arrival and as often as needed during their stay. The purpose of Pastoral Care is to offer holistic spiritual care, encouragement and comfort to the patients and their families.

The Director of Pastoral Care will see to it that the services of the Department are available 24 hours daily for patients and their families. Patients will be visited shortly after their arrival to acquaint them of the services of the department, to offer comfort and support and to administer the Sacraments by an appropriate member of the Pastoral Care staff. Patients are encouraged to receive visits from clergy of their own denomination by contacting the Pastoral Care staff or contacting their clergy themselves.

Emergency Department Requests

OSF St. Mary Pastoral Care responds to Emergency Department requests for pastoral services for patients and families of serious or critical nature. The purpose of such is to satisfy, as quickly as possible, the spiritual needs and desires of patients and their families offering spiritual comfort and when necessary administration of the Sacraments by the priest or chaplain. At the request of the patient or family, their own minister will be notified.

Emergency Services

OSF St. Mary Pastoral Care responds to any emergency situation. This includes code blue, death, dying, suicide, trauma alerts and any critical care situation, to ensure spiritual support and encouragement to patients and family members.

Medical Surgical Patients

OSF St. Mary Pastoral Care can be called upon to minister to patients who are in serious or critical condition, who are undergoing serious or major surgery or any who may request spiritual assistance or the reception of the Sacraments. Whenever there is a patient who becomes serious or critical, needs to be transferred to a special care unit, or another medical center, the pastoral care staff is notified to be with the patient and family. If the patient is Catholic, the priest or chaplain will be notified for the administration of the Sacraments or a patient may request to have their own pastor contacted.

Obstetric Patients/Emergency Baptism

OSF St. Mary Pastoral Care will visit patients and be present with expectant mothers and fathers in serious situations to meet the spiritual needs through joy and crisis that they may have to endure. The priest or chaplain will be called when patients are judged to be in danger by the physician in charge. Every effort will be made to contact the patient's own pastor/minister if requested by the patient or family. The priest or chaplain is the ordinary administer of the Sacrament of Baptism and will be notified immediately when a newborn infant is in danger of death. At OSF St. Mary, we will respect the religious traditions and preference of the parents and will as for verbal, informed consent of the parents before baptizing the infant.

Mission Integration

Mother Frances Krasse Gave the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis their Mission over 130 years ago. The Mission Statement: In the Example of Jesus Christ and the example of St Francis of Assisi, we serve persons with the greatest care and love, in a Community that celebrates the gift of life. Each year the Sisters Mission Vision is renewed through the Mission Integration Program for all of our Community of Caregivers.

Patient and Family Prayer Requests

OSF St. Mary Pastoral Care will respond to patient and visitor prayer requests.

Hours of Mass

Monday through Friday at 8am and Sunday's at 8am. The Pastoral Care Department offers Memorial Masses quarterly in the hospital chapel.