Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care

The Karmanos Cancer Institute's Spiritual Care Service provides spiritual support to you, your family members and friends. We are here to accompany you through your cancer journey by listening with compassion and providing a calming presence; having an open conversation with you about hope, fear or other emotions you may be feeling; offering prayers and blessings; and connecting you to your faith through our own staff and volunteers or by referring you to community resources.

Spiritual assistance and support services available to you:

• Supportive visits by Spiritual Care Service chaplains and volunteers
• Eucharistic (and other sacramental) ministry
• Community-based faith support through staff and volunteers from various religious denominations including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Jehovah’s Witness, Judaism, Islam and Seventh Day Adventist
• A connection to community resources for other religious traditions

Other services we offer:

• Care and support during times of illness, injury, crisis and loss
• Rituals such as baptism, communion, blessing and anointing of the sick
• Assistance contacting a faith community minister, priest or rabbi
• Consultation with your health care team
• Inspirational books and pamphlets
• Bereavement support and counseling
• Access to the Interfaith Reflection Center available 24 hours a day for prayer, reflection and meditation
• Interfaith opportunities for worship, celebration, learning and reflection
• Other programs include multi-faith holiday services and special events

We welcome calls anytime from patients and families, as well as from staff. No question or concern is too small. Some of the reasons you may want to call us include:

• When you are feeling afraid, guilty, weak, discouraged, sad or lonely
• If you are having a hard time coping
• To talk about meaning or purpose in life
• When spirituality is a source of strength and meaning for you
• If you are struggling with faith or religious beliefs
• To celebrate good news
• To talk about major decisions
• When you just want someone to listen
• Any other reason when you feel you need support

There is no fee for our services.

More Information

For more information about the spiritual care services available at Karmanos, please call 1-800-KARMANOS (1-800-527-6266).