Health Care Ministry

The Office of Health Care Ministry supports the ministry of those women and men designated to provide pastoral care to patients and their families/loved ones in healthcare facilities within the Archdiocese of Boston. It also collaborates with parishes in their outreach to the homebound sick and aged, the dying, and nursing home residents.

The Office's activities include information and referral services, publication of two newsletters - "Listen for chaplains" and "The Pastoral Visitor" - for parish pastoral visitation coordinators, a job bank and referral service, training and outreach programs for pastoral volunteers, educational gatherings and the maintenance of a small library of pastoral care journals, tapes and other materials. 

The Director, Deacon James F. Greer was appointed in 2008. 

Publications

• Summer 2019 Newsletter
• Winter 2018 Newsletter  
• Spring 2018 Newsletter  
• Winter 2017 Newsletter  
• Fall 2017 Newsletter 
• Summer 2017 Newsletter  
• Spring 2017 Newsletter 
• Spring 2017 Attachments 

• Bereavement Video Streaming Library
• Dealing with the Opioid Crisis
• Advance Health Care Directives - A Catholic Perspective
• Template Healthcare and Prison
• Entering a Hospital Guide
• USCCB to Live Each Day With Dignity
• 2023 Hospital Chaplains 
• Assisted Living and Extended Care Facilities
• Health Care Proxy

Workshops

For more information on workshops, please contact Christine Willis at [email protected].

Available on request (One Hour) 
QPR-Suicide Prevention
Ethical Decision Making

End of Life Workshop
Compassion Fatigue Workshop

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is health care ministry? 
A: Health care ministry flows directly from the Gospel and Jesus' example of compassionate concern for the sick and vulnerable. Catholic pastoral caregivers serve as visible expressions of the presence of God and the care of the Church during the experience of illness.
 
Q: Who are health care ministers? 
A: Professional health care ministers are priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and lay women and men who serve as chaplains and pastoral health care ministers in: acute care hospitals, long term care institutions, rehabilitation hospitals, hospices, other health care settings and parishes.
 
Q: What is the role of pastoral health care ministry in the parish? 
A: The parish is the primary provider of pastoral outreach to the sick, the homebound, nursing home residents and the terminally ill through visitation, prayer and the sacraments. This pastoral care is generally shared by parish staff members and parish volunteers who serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and/or Pastoral Visitors.
 
Q: How does the Office of Parish Outreach Ministries/Health Care Ministry support parish health care ministry? 
A: The Office of Parish Outreach Ministries/Health Care Ministry provides information and consultation to parishes. It presently is involved in projects to assist parishes to:

• Support the ministry of parish pastoral visitation volunteers 
•  Extend sacramental care and pastoral outreach to Catholic residents of nursing homes 
•  Provide supportive care to the terminally ill and their loved ones 
•  Establish collaborative ministry in hospitals not served by a chaplain