The First Sunday in Advent
Advent begins the new Christian year and consists of the four Sundays before Christmas...
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Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
Like most hospital settings, we offer chaplaincy support and our voluntary chaplains, although at present are drawn from various Christian churches, endeavour to ensure that all our clients' pastoral needs are met.
We agree wholeheartedly with Mildmay’s Vision and Mission statement: "that they may have life and have it in all its fullness" (John 10:10). Our main focus is to offer spiritual, pastoral, emotional and religious care to patients, clients, their families and friends, volunteers and visitors.
Our Hospital’s Foundation is Christian, thus ensuring that we welcome and respond to the needs of persons of all faiths and of none. In short, the chaplaincy presence touches all aspects of life at Mildmay, as the wellbeing of all individuals is our concern.
Our approach is distinctively inclusive, ensuring we enjoy working relationships with all at Mildmay, based on the knowledge that all persons are spiritual though not all are specifically religious. All our services are patient-centred and take into consideration their cultural, social and religious backgrounds.
Those we have cared for over the years have described how this faith has lent an extra dimension to our care, and it remains central to who we are as a charity.
We network and form helpful links with other faith-based organisations where appropriate.
Days and times of services
Lunchtime Service in the chapel, 12.00am
-
Wednesdays
-
Thursdays
-
Fridays
Mondays and Tuesdays
The chaplains on duty are free to invite clients and staff to pray at times that are convenient for them, for our clients and our staff. They are now engaging in pastoral care with individuals when this is requested.
The chaplaincy team
Bernie Devine SP.
Lead Chaplain (Catholic Sister)
Pauline Chambers (Catholic parishioner)
Vicki Rawding
(Born again Christian)
Rev. Paul Rout OFM (Franciscan Catholic priest)
Kenneth Van Heerden, Zeo Church / Catholic
Rev. Joseph Quoc Cuang
Catholic priest
Harmeet (Meeta)
The Evangelism Team in the Emmanuel Church
Ian Mansfield
The Evangelism Team in the Emmanuel Church
Patrick Gormley (Catholic parishioner)
Patrick has now retired but you can read his story here.
If you would like to have a chat with a chaplain friend, please ask a nurse, care assistant, or staff member to contact us, or get in touch directly. We are usually present Mondays-Fridays between 8am-4pm. We may be available other times by appointment.
If you are willing, please fill in part of or all of the information required on the ‘tree cards’ which you will find on the ward or at the entrance to the hospital or chapel.
Our chaplains are here to offer a 'listening ear’ in all circumstances, including end-of-life care
What we do day-to-day
As part of Mildmay's multidisciplinary team, the chaplains are here to offer a listening ‘ear’ and emotional support in all circumstances pertaining to the patients' personal, ongoing and end-of-life care, as well as all who come to Mildmay.
We endeavour to contribute to the general life and development of Mildmay whilst maintaining good communication by treating everyone with the utmost respect.
We meet with others in one-to-ones and in groups, when appropriate. Other responsibilities include preparing, animating and leading chapel services while maintaining the chapel as a sacred space for peace and tranquillity.
Clients who have been discharged and are returning to their communities are linked to their local churches, Mosques, Temples and other local groups to ensure they are given ongoing support.
Thought for the week
"Grant us Prudence in proportion to our power. Wisdom in proportion to our science and Humaneness in proportion to wealth and might. Bless our earnest will to help all races and people to travel in friendship along the road to justice, liberty and lasting peace.
Grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of Your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals Your hidden will and Your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see Your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to all. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found!
In Your will, O God, is our peace!
Amen."
Thomas Merton
The Nonviolent Alternative
Image credit: Jim Forest
Bereavement care
Caring for those who are making their final journey in life, together with their loved ones, is an essential characteristic of a humane society, religious or otherwise.
We are here to assist during the painful, traumatic process of bereavement. The chaplaincy team will offer or arrange prayer and counselling, religious rites and practices appropriate to your particular faith group, and if requested, ongoing bereavement support. Our chaplains, if asked, will take funeral services.
Memorial Services, at a time convenient time for families and friends, are also celebrated in memory of the bereaved.
Background photo by Mahdi Bafande
The Chapel
Our dedicated chapel welcomes all people. This is a tranquil space for periods of prayer or silence as well as for religious service and contemplation. It is open for all to use with a small allocated space for persons of other faiths.
Our chaplaincy team includes members from many different Christian denominations. We maintain strong links with the local community and can organise the services of local religious leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities.
Chaplaincy contact details
The Chaplaincy
Mildmay Mission Hospital
19 Tabernacle Gardens
London
E2 7DZ
Tel: 020 7613 6301/6302
Email: chaplains@mildmay.org
Wisdom and inspiration
"My religion is simple, My religion is kindness"
Buddhism
"Love your neighbour as yourself"
Christianity
"Fear not. What is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed"
Hinduism
"Love all, with sincere love and concern"
Islam
"By three things is the world sustained: justice, truth and peace"
Judaism
Prayer Diary/bookmark
About twice a year, we produce the Mildmay Prayer Diary. This has information and news on projects, causes and our upcoming events that are in need of your prayer support.
We can let you have copies for your church as well, so if you would like to be sent our next prayer diary, please let us know by email.
Download the latest Prayer Diary / Bookmark here:
Apply: volunteer chaplains / chaplaincy placements
If you feel you have the calling to join our Chaplaincy Team as a volunteer or on a placement, please download the relevant application form and return it to us when completed.
You can download a Word version to fill in on your screen and return it easily by email or a pdf version to print out and fill in by hand and either email or post back to us. All the information you need is on the form.
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