Orangeville, ON, December 18, 2009 – Headwaters Health Care Centre’s pastoral care team recently celebrated the commissioning of 14 volunteer chaplains for Headwaters’ Orangeville and Shelburne sites. “We are fortunate to have so much support from the area churches and faith communities,” says Reverend Barbara Moulton, Coordinator of Pastoral Care at Headwaters Health Care Centre.

The hospital has 39 volunteer chaplains who provide spiritual and religious care for patients, their families, staff and volunteers at Headwaters Health Care Centre, regardless of faith or creed.

Chaplains minister during times of illness, injury or loss. Headwaters Health Care Centre relies on volunteer chaplains to provide a supportive and listening presence, advocacy, rituals and crisis intervention.  

The health care chaplain is an integral member of the hospital health care team, making daily rounds and is available 24-hours a day to provide pastoral care for patients, family and staff. “Often the hospital chaplain will see a patient before their minister knows they are in hospital and with the patient’s permission will contact their family pastor, priest, rabbi, or other religious leader,” says Moulton.

Preparation for commissioning involves a rigorous application process, interviews, training and mentoring.  “Our mission as chaplains is to minister to others in the context of their own spirituality, religion or faith,” says Moulton. 

There is a Chapel and Multi-faith Prayer Room on the lower level of Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville, which is available for all patients, visitors and staff. Volunteer chaplains are available at both the Shelburne and Orangeville sites on call, on a 24/365 basis.

The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions about hospital services. Please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre at 519-941-2702 ext. 2200.

About Headwaters Health Care Centre
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves more than 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

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