Pastoral Care & Grief Services
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Certified Chaplain and Department Director, Sister Dorothy Niemann (center), SCSC, with Pastoral Care Associates Phyllis Berndsen (left) and Clare Wesselmann (right), comprise the Pastoral Care Department at St. Joseph’s in Breese. At least one is at the hospital weekdays; all three share emergency call, providing services on weekends, holidays and around the clock.
Pastoral Care staff offers spiritual support to patients through their presence, prayer and empathetic listening and assist patients and families in clarifying value issues, dealing with ethical concerns and completing advanced directives.
Pastoral Care staff provides a spiritual presence to those who are dying and their family members, and at other times of crisis. Staff also leads blessings, memorial services and other special prayer services.
Specifically, the department provides:
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Chapel
The hospital chapel is on the first (main) floor, just off the main lobby, next to the Pastoral Care Office. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Everyone is invited to visit the chapel for prayer and meditation.
Grief Support (Individual, Group)
The Grief Support Group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. Using videos, discussion and hand-outs, the grief process is accomplished through mutual support, understanding and confidentiality. Those grieving may want to wait a month or two before attending a group meeting.
Immediately following a loss, individual grief counseling by telephone or in person may be more appropriate.
For more information on making arrangements for individual grief support or to attend a grief support session, contact 618.526-5327 or email Sr. Dorothy Niemann.
Memorial Services
Ecumenical memorial services honor those patients who have died at St. Joseph’s in Breese. The service also recognizes hospital employees and family members of employees who have died.
The annual Perinatal Memorial Service, with Pastoral Care and the Women and Infants Center, is for parents and/or family members who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death, ectopic pregnancy or death of a child later in life and honors the memory of all children, regardless of age or time passed.
For more information, contact 618.526-5327 or email Sr. Dorothy Niemann.
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