Psalm 23, large printEvery faith, and none
We start by asking what you would like
We are Christians, and we will not hide that. We also will not use your hardest week to talk you into anything.
How we pray with you
Six promises we make at the door
Every chaplain and volunteer signs these at the end of training, and we ask families to hold us to them.
We ask before we pray
And we ask how. Out loud or silently, holding hands or not, in your words or ours, or not at all.
Matthew 6:6
We bring your own tradition
Prayer books in eleven languages, rosaries, a prayer rug and qibla card, and a list of clergy who will come at night.
We never proselytise at a bedside
If you want to talk about Jesus, we will gladly. If you don't, we won't bring him up uninvited.
Silence counts
Some of our best visits are thirty minutes without a word. We are comfortable with that.
What you say stays with us
Nothing goes in the chart or to your family unless you ask. The only exception is if someone is in danger.
We come back
If we say we will visit tomorrow, we will. If we can't, someone else will, and they'll know your name.
Matthew 25:36
Clergy on call
When you need someone from your own tradition
These congregations keep a name on our night list, so we can bring the right person at any hour.
- St. Kilian's ParishRoman Catholic, Old Brooklyn
Anointing of the sick and last rites, any hour, from a schedule of four priests.
- Clark Avenue MasjidMuslim, Clark-Fulton
An imam and two women chaplains for prayer, washing and guidance at the time of death.
- Fairmount HavurahJewish, Cleveland Heights
Visits, the Vidui prayer and help contacting a chevra kadisha.
- HolyCrossOrthodoxMissionEastern Orthodox, Parma
Holy Unction and communion for Orthodox patients and families.
- Detroit Avenue SanghaBuddhist, Gordon Square
Chanting and quiet sitting with patients and families who ask.
Prayers to print
Words for the bedside
For families who want to pray but can't find the words. Large print, one page each.
Psalm 23, large printPrayersPrayers at the time of death
Short prayers for family members to say together, from several Christian traditions.
Prayers20262 pages
PDF · 140 KBDownload
PrayersA blessing for a newborn in the NICU
For parents to read over an incubator. Room to write the baby's name.
Prayers20261 page
PDF · 120 KBDownload
PrayersPrayer cards in Spanish, Polish and Arabic
The Lord's Prayer and a short blessing in the languages we are asked for most.
Prayers20253 pages
PDF · 310 KBDownload
StaffFor staff: a two-minute pause after a death
A short, non-religious moment of respect that any nurse can lead at the bedside.
Staff20261 page
PDF · 75 KBDownload
Nothing matches. Ask the on-call chaplain and we'll bring one.
Tell us your tradition on the form. We'll do the rest.
If we can't bring someone from your own faith, we'll say so honestly and offer what we can.