Pastoral Care is an integral part of Catholic health care. Mercy offers the spiritual services of prayer, sacraments, a listening presence, and assistance in dealing with the emotions and questions that come with sickness.

Mercy’s experienced staff chaplains:

• Offer sacraments and lead Christian prayer services
• Provide spiritual care for patients and staff regardless of faith or religious tradition
• Assess the spiritual and religious needs of inpatients and their families in emergency situations, by request or referral, and for all other inpatients in a timely manner
• Notify a patient’s own pastor or faith community upon request
• Assist patients, upon request, with information about or development and execution of advance directives
• Available to speak with patients about organ and tissue donation

Mercy's Chapel is available to all patients, visitors, and staff for prayer and solitude. It is located on the first floor and is open from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight. Ecumenical Prayer services are held at noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Catholic Mass is celebrated on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m., and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. Times vary on holidays. Chapel worship services may be viewed in patient rooms on channel 5.

A lending library is available in Mercy’s Pastoral Care office, located just off the mail lobby. It includes Bibles in various languages and versions (including audiotape), the Hebrew Scriptures, The Quran, and religious music CD’s. Phone: 319-339-3556.