Pastoral and spiritual care services
Our mission is to provide spiritual and emotional care and support to children, families, and staff that cultivates healing and wholeness and honors the dignity of each person.
Chaplains are here to listen, accompany, and bear witness to the joys, sorrows, and hopes of children and families. We are available for prayer, blessings, rituals, and for spiritual, emotional, and religious needs.
In Temple, our Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center chaplains are available for emotional and spiritual support. They are committed to providing our patients, families, and staff with the best care. We honor every person's journey and spiritual path and do not promote specific beliefs. This care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are part of the medical team, participating in patient care, crisis intervention, and family support. We are committed to holistic care for the body, mind, and spirit.
Chaplains assist patients and their families in emergent situations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Non-emergent care is typically provided during regular business hours, although a chaplain is on-call and available after hours.
How a chaplain can help
We understand that your child's health involves more than medicine alone. That's why our Central Texas chaplains are available to assist you in meeting your unique spiritual and emotional needs. Our team can facilitate the observance of meaningful spiritual rituals and the observance of holy days in all religions. We honor every person's journey and spiritual path and do not promote specific beliefs. Please tell your child's nurse if you would like to speak with one of our chaplains.
Illness or injury can bring isolation, fear, doubt, and grief. The chaplain addresses these crises through spiritual and emotional support that provides comfort and assists in understanding, thus promoting healing and recovery. Professional chaplains respect and respond to the patient's and family's values and beliefs, regardless of community, faith, religious or non-religious tradition.
A chaplain is available to:
- Offer spiritual and emotional support, companionship, and compassion to all without judgment or discrimination.
- Provide pastoral care visits for patients and families, offering spiritual-emotional support to give comfort, aid healing, and care for the spirit.
- Assist in processing feelings of anger, fear, hopelessness, or despair.
- Provide literature from a variety of faith traditions to encourage your spiritual well-being.
- Serve people of all communities, faiths, and religious and non-religious traditions.
- Facilitate excellent communication with your medical team during your stay, and advocate for the patient and family.
- Provide pastoral counseling, grief and bereavement, and prayer support as requested.
- Provide emotional and spiritual support when there is a new diagnosis, a significant change in the care plan, and before surgery and procedures.
- Provide religious services as requested, such as Holy Communion, blessing, baptism, anointing, and other services.
The Baugh-Chiles Interfaith Chapel
A gift from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation
This beautiful chapel has been provided to enhance and encourage your emotional and spiritual journey. The chapel is available for quiet reflection and prayer, playing the piano, singing, and reading religious literature. We provide Bibles, devotionals, rosaries, and faith-oriented publications. You are welcome to take any of these items without charge.
You may access the chapel through the hospital's main lobby behind the Donor Wall. Patients, families, visitors, and staff from all faith traditions can use the chapel for prayer and reflection.
Hours
Monday through Friday
6:30 am - 8:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday
8:30 am - 8:30 pm