About PHCS > Pastoral Care/Religious Ministries

Pastoral Care/Religious Ministries

Chaplaincy at Princeton HealthCare System - A Ministry Dedicated to the Service of the God of Mercy, Comfort and Healing

Welcome to the Department of Religious Ministries. Our chaplains are available to patients, families and friends, and all hospital staff. We are here to support people from all religious faiths, as well as those without an affiliation. Religious Ministries-finalforweb

We have six chaplains on staff, two of whom are full time with offices at University Medical Center at Princeton and Princeton House Behavioral Health. Our program includes three Protestant ministers, two rabbis (Conservative and Reform), and a Roman Catholic sister. Although they are not on our staff, a Hindu priest and an Imam also frequently visit patients, as requested. In addition, we have a full-time office coordinator, a Sunday organist, 10 volunteers and five students each year from the Princeton Theological Seminary.

Our program is a unique cooperative effort between Princeton HealthCare System and the local religious community. More than 40 organizations - Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Jewish, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Muslim, Reformed and AME Zion - support the work of our Department through monetary contributions, participation in the work of the Committee on Religious Ministries and by providing on-call coverage nights and weekends, permitting 24-hour, seven-day-a-week care.

Our goal is to offer quality pastoral care that is appropriate, ecumenical, accessible and integrated with the care offered by other members of the healthcare team. When a patient has an ongoing relationship with a local congregation, our department serves as a connection between the patient, Princeton HealthCare System and his or her congregation.

In addition to special services throughout the year, our chaplains and field education students lead weekly chapel services on Sundays at University Medical Center at Princeton, Princeton House Behavioral Health and Merwick Care Center.

The Reverend Richard H. White
Chaplain and Director of Religious Ministries

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