Spiritual Services

The Pastoral Care Department provides spiritual care for patients, families and staff. Spiritual resources are provided to all in the hospital and community for Christian and non-Christian traditions.

Chaplains visit all newly admitted patients, those having surgery, critical situations and others by referral or request. During times of personal or family illness, chaplains assist patients and families connect with their own spiritual resources and provide support for addressing spiritual concerns that may arise with illness. Our staff is trained to respectfully provide support for people from various faiths as well as those who do not identify any particular faith.

Through their ministry, chaplains offer compassion, hope, and a healing presence to people in crisis. Available 24 hours a day, chaplains have had specific training in crisis pastoral ministry and represent a variety of cultural backgrounds.

The Pastoral Care offices are located on the third floor of the Main Building – across from the gift shop, next to the chapel.


Swedish Hospital Chapel

The Swedish Hospital Chapel is located on the third floor of the Main Building and is always open for personal prayer and meditation. Seasonal and occasional services are conducted throughout the year.

Garden of Compassion and Healing Garden

What can be more relaxing and serene than a beautiful gardens available to you at all times for spending a quiet moment of personal or family time? Take a look at our Garden of Compassion, located in front of the Anderson Pavilion, or spend some time in our Healing Garden, located along the outdoor walkway behind the Galter Medical Pavilion and the Galter LifeCenter.

Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives

Personal values and priorities, relationships, spirituality, and one’s religious tradition often influence decisions about advanced care planning and end of life care. Chaplains can be called upon to engage patients, their families, and their care team in conversations related to these issues. They assist with Healthcare Power of Attorney documents and Living Wills. Advance Directive information and forms are available from the State of Illinois.

Contact Us

For more information about spiritual resources or Advance Directives at Swedish Hospital, contact the Pastoral Care Department at 773-878.8200, ext. 5365 or the on-call pager at 773-781-0724.