Pastoral care in hospital

Christian support for people who are suffering

Chaplains are on duty in 22 Upper Austrian healthcare facilities.

(Bild: Diözese Linz)

65 full-time chaplains work in Upper Austrian hospitals and rehabilitation centers, as well as many volunteers. Their aim is to help people in difficult times. For Bishop Scheuer from Linz, this is an "essential contribution to holistic treatment."

"Why me in particular?" Many people would ask themselves this question in the event of a serious illness. This is precisely where hospital chaplaincy comes in: "It is present when the medical, nursing and therapeutic team reaches its limits. It strengthens the psychological and spiritual resources of patients and complements the healing mission of medicine," says Doris Wierzbicki, Head of the Hospital Pastoral Care Team of the Diocese of Linz.

"Simply hold hands"
65 full-time hospital chaplains work in 22 Upper Austrian hospitals, rehabilitation centers and palliative and hospice facilities, providing around 80,000 hours of service to the sick every year. "This includes listening, enduring, being there, or simply holding a patient's hand in silence on the palliative care ward," says Wierzbicki.

Health is the most important asset
Bishop Manfred Scheuer emphasized that health would be at the top of the list of personal goods in many opinion polls. "But health requires the ability to develop a healthy relationship with illness, to face mental conflicts and to deal with them in a productive way," continued Scheuer.