Spiritual Care Department at Rhode Island Hospital

As part of Lifespan’s commitment to providing care that recognizes the whole person, our spiritual care department is committed to meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of our patients, families, and staff. The community we serve includes a diversity of religions, cultures, and spiritual practices, as well as those who don’t identify with any spiritual or religious tradition. As a result, our staff takes a multi-faith approach to spiritual care, emphasizing the individual needs of those we serve. 

Our chaplains are integrated into the care team, visiting patients and families at the bedside at Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital. They also see patients on an outpatient basis at the Lifespan Cancer Institute.

Chaplain Availability

Chaplains are at the hospitals Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On-call chaplains are available nights and weekends for emergencies. 

Spiritual Care Office: 401-444-4304
On-Call: Ask a nurse to page the on-call chaplain or call 401-444-5108.

When to Call a Chaplain

People call on chaplains for different reasons.

Some of the most common are:

• Overwhelming illness (new diagnosis or prognosis)
• Apprehension about surgery
• Loneliness, discouragement, and hopelessness 
• Fear and anxiety
• Identifying sources of hope and joy
• Impact of illness on relationships
• Struggling with the meaning of life
• Exploring faith and God
• Questions about life and death
• Prayer, ritual, or spiritual practices
• Navigating religious and spiritual beliefs and practices
• Support for religion-specific needs
• Medical decision-making and ethical dilemmas
• Participate in family meetings with medical providers
• End-of-life

Catholic Sacramental Needs

In partnership with the Diocese of Providence, Catholic priests are available to care for the sacramental needs of our patients who identify as Catholic. In addition, volunteer Eucharistic Ministers provide communion to patients who request it.

To contact a priest or to request someone be added to the list to receive communion:

Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital: Call the spiritual care office at 401-444-4304.

For emergencies, call 401-444-5108 and ask for the on-call Catholic priest to be paged.

To see if there are any services or programs being held in any of the hospital’s chapels, please call the spiritual care office at 401-444-4304 or check the display case outside of the chapels.