Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care staff work closely with other members of the healthcare team, offering spiritual care and support while you or your loved one are in Yale New Haven Hospital. Our chaplains can help people of different faiths and cultures cope with the stress of illness, injury and being in the hospital. 

When to call a chaplain

Chaplains can visit patients and their loved ones at the bedside at any time. A chaplain may be helpful to patients who are:

• Wrestling with medical news or struggling to make sense of an illness
• Finding it hard to hold on to hope and faith or wondering whether God is present and cares
• Struggling with medical decisions and value
• Desiring prayer or a faith-specific ritual
• Needing someone to listen to concerns
• Preparing for a medical procedure or surgery
• Getting  information or help with Advance Directive
• Grieving over the loss of a loved one
• In the midst of a crisis
• Hoping to return to spiritual practices that were once meaningful
• Wanting to make peace with a loved one

Places for prayer, reflection or meditation

York Street Campus Chapel

A multi-faith chapel on the first floor of the South Pavilion; open at all times.

• Fridays at noon: Jum’ah prayer 
• Sundays at 9:30 am to noon: Roman Catholic Mass  
• Christian Holy day services on Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday 

All services are broadcast on hospital TV channel 75.

Saint Raphael Campus Chapel

Located on the first floor near the main entrance; open at all times to persons of all faith traditions.

• Monday - Friday and Sunday at noon: Roman Catholic Mass
• Saturday at 4 pm: Roman Catholic Vigil 
• Christian Holy day services on Christmas, Easter and Ash Wednesday 

All services are broadcast on hospital TV channel 75. 

Smilow Healing Garden

An outdoor healing garden on the seventh floor of Smilow Cancer Hospital, York Street Campus; open from 8 am - 5 pm

Smilow Reflection Room

Room 102 on the fourth floor of Smilow Cancer Hospital, York Street Campus; open at all times; 30-minute meditation groups on Tuesdays at 1 and 2 pm 

Visiting Religious Leaders

Hospital staff welcome and work with community religious leaders to provide for the spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones; religious leaders, including lay ministers or other designated religious representatives, are partners in a patient’s healing experience.

Hospital staff members expect visiting religious leaders will:

• Follow hospital visitation policies
• Secure a visitor pass at one of the main entrances
• Protect the confidentiality of patient health information
• Abide by hospital policies and procedures such as visiting only those who requested a visit
• Come as a general patient visitor and not a religious leader when the patient is visited primarily as a friend or family member

Hospital staff members value our community religious leaders; our community religious leaders play an important role in the lives of patients and their loved ones.

Spiritual Care Institute

The department of Spiritual Care offers an annual Spiritual Care Institute to members of the clergy in different religious faiths in the community. Participants can deepen their ministry and understanding with an overview of basic spiritual care practice with those who are sick and suffering. The Spiritual Care Institute faculty are YNHH chaplains. The cost per participant is minimal for six consecutive weekly two-hour evening sessions.

Clinical Pastoral Education

Visit the Clinical Pastoral Education Program in our Research & Education section.

For More Information

Department of Spiritual Care:
York Street Campus:
20 York Street
Hunter 507
New Haven, CT 06510-3202
203-688-2151

Saint Raphael Campus:
125 Sherman Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
203-789-3245