Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care and Support

At Mount Auburn Hospital, we believe that your spiritual health is an important part of your recovery process. Our chaplains provide interfaith care and support for you and your family.

We work closely with your care team. We offer support for people of all faiths, cultures and traditions, and for those of no religious affiliation.

Our Spiritual Care Services

We care for the whole person. We provide you and your family with counseling for emotional, ethical and spiritual concerns.

Our chaplains address your needs in a way that supports you. Even if you do not express your spirituality in a religious tradition, we can help.

Our team offers:

• Bereavement support
• Companionship during illness and end of life
• Family meetings to discuss your care or that of a loved one
• Prayer
• Scripture
• Sacraments
• Worship services

You and your family can also visit our chapel at any time. Located in the Needham Lobby, the Mount Auburn Hospital chapel is available 24/7.

Bereavement

“Grief is our common bond. Opening to our sorrow connects us with everyone, everywhere. There is no gesture of kindness that is wasted, no offering of compassion that is useless. We can be generous to every sorrow we see.”

-Frances Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow

Bereavement Support Groups

When you find yourself coping with the loss of a loved one or close friend, support from others can be healing. At Mount Auburn Hospital we offer three eight-week long bereavement support groups a year.

The goal of a bereavement group is to break the isolation grief imposes. You learn from others going through the same experience. We share what works and what does not work.

Each free session includes an educational component. Topics we cover include:

• How to handle stress
• Finding friends and family members who are supportive
• The nature of grief

Our bereavement groups are open to any adult dealing with the death of someone close. This includes the loss of a spouse/partner, child, parent, sibling, friend, and/or other relative.

If you feel you are dealing with complicated issues in your grief, consider seeing a grief counselor. Our bereavement support group does not take the place of professional individual or group counseling. 

Meet Our Chaplains

Our chaplains provide care and services to people of all faiths. Chaplains are trained to address spiritual issues, whether or not a person is religious. Spiritual issues may address finding meaning and purpose, dealing with isolation or lack of control and exploring where to find hope. Chaplains visit patients and families during all levels of care, not just end of life.

• The Reverend Beth Loomis, Director of Pastoral Care. Rev. Loomis is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She trained at Harvard Divinity School. She knows how to meet the needs of people of all faiths. Before coming to Mount Auburn, she coordinated chaplain and bereavement services in hospice care. Rev. Loomis is also co-chair of the Mount Auburn Ethics Committee. 
• Catholic Chaplain Mary Harrison, M.T.S., S.T.L. Appointed by the Archdiocese of Boston, Mary provides pastoral care to Roman Catholic patients. She is board-certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC). Mary coordinates the administration of sacraments by Roman Catholic priests. She manages the services of priests who speak Armenian, Greek, Portuguese and Spanish for non-English speaking patients. Mary also schedules Eucharistic Ministers to provide communion for patients.