What is Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care is concerned for you holistically, which includes your physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.
The Pastoral Care Service at Mater supports the entire clinical team in providing holistic care to patients, carers and their families.
A Pastoral Care Practitioner will seek to visit you during your stay in hospital. Specific religious needs of all denominations and faiths are coordinated through this department.
The pastoral care service is available to:
- hear your story
- listen to your concerns
- support you in times of grief and loss
- support you emotionally and spiritually in times of crises
- reflect with you on life’s dilemmas
- rejoice with you in times of joy and healing
- pray with you and for you at your request
- arrange for the Sacraments of the Catholic faith
- contact other faith group representatives on your behalf.
Accessibility
Pastoral Care Practitioners will endeavour to visit your unit on a regular basis. However, visits may also be requested through your nursing staff.
Pastoral Care team values
Pastoral Care Practitioners, through working in close cooperation with other healthcare professionals, recognise the needs of each individual. They primarily care for and are concerned with the human spirit, regardless of gender, race, culture, religion or status.
This care is offered with sensitivity to the needs and wishes of the patient and family.
Mater's Mission and Values
In the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, Mater offers compassionate service to the sick and needy, promotes an holistic approach to healthcare in response to changing community needs and fosters high standards of health-related education and research. Following the example of Christ the Healer, we commit ourselves to offering these services without discrimination.
Mater's Values are:
- Mercy
- Dignity
- Care
- Commitment
- Quality
Pastoral Care's role
To promote healing by listening, responding to, and providing care for the emotional and spiritual needs of patient, their families, staff and others in the Mater community.
Our Pastoral Care team will endeavour to visit you during your hospital stay; however, you may also request a visit via your healthcare team during times when they are available.
There are chapels across all Mater campuses across Queensland, with Catholic Mass and services held regularly. Please check the notice boards outside your Chapel for service times.
These sacred spaces are available for you to visit for your own individual time outside the scheduled service times. If you require a multifaith space, speak to a member of staff.
Mater acknowledges consumer consultation in the development of this patient information.
Mater Doc Num: PI-CLN-400006
Last modified 06/1/2020.
Consumers were consulted in the development of this patient information.
Last consumer engagement date: 31/10/2016
For further translated health information, you can visit healthtranslations.vic.gov.au/ supported by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services that offers a range of patient information in multiple languages.