MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Spiritual Care recognizes the importance of the relationship between spirituality and physical health. Pastoral and spiritual caregivers play an important role in this process.
Compassionate care for the human spirit
MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Spiritual Care chaplains are specially-trained in human understanding, pastoral counseling, and religious and cultural traditions. Chaplains are available to all patients and their loved ones. We provide a listening presence, guidance in mindfulness and prayer, decision-making support, and help finding purpose and meaning.
What can I expect from a chaplain?
Our chaplains provide emotional support and gentle spiritual guidance when people are:
- Feeling anxious, afraid or upset
- Struggling with emotional, spiritual or religious questions or with the meaning of an illness
- Wrestling with difficult treatment choices or ethical dilemmas
- Observing spiritual practices or religious rites
- Inviting their faith community leader
- Grieving
- Dealing with difficult news
- Preparing mindfully for surgery
Chapel/Quiet Room
The MaineHealth Waldo Hospital chapel/quiet room is located on the second floor of the hospital, across from the elevator. The chapel is always open for reflection and prayer. You may leave prayer requests for the Chaplain. When the Chaplain is not available, local clergy are available to provide support.
Grief is a human experience. Facing the death of a family member is very hard and everyone copes with grief differently. Regardless of whether the death was expected or sudden, this can be a time of confusion and sadness. Some people face the death of a loved one with the support of other family members and friends. Some face it in an unfamiliar place filled with strangers. Some people face it alone, with no one to turn to and no knowledge of where to begin.
Grief resources for adults:
- Maine Grief Support Groups
- What Do I Do Next
- Life After Loss
- Some Spiritual Tools & Tips
- GriefShare – Worldwide directory of support groups for people grieving the death of a family member or friend.
Grief resources for children:
- After a Loved One Dies: How Children Grieve, and How Adults can Support Them
Resources by County
Knox County
Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers
91 Camden Street, Suite 408, Rockland
Contact Information
Rebecca Jang-Dhari Brandes
Phone: 207-466-9444
Email: coastalfamilyhospicevolunteers@gmail.com
Services Available
Contact Rebecca to learn more and register for their no-cost services, which include:
- Peer-facilitated, monthly drop-in bereavement support group. Meets the first Monday of every month at Quarry Hill (30 Community Drive, Camden) from 4:00-5:00 PM. Open to anyone coping with the loss of a loved one.
- Parent bereavement group, in-person twice per month at the Nativity Lutheran Church (179 Old County Road, Rockport).
- One on one volunteer support
- 8-week closed group which is held twice each year (Call office for information)
Waldo County
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County (HVOWC)
HVOWC, PO Box 772, Belfast, Maine 04915
Contact Information
Phone: 207-505-4434
Email: waldohospicevolunteers@gmail.com
Services Available
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County are companions in times of illness, dying and grief.
Their trained volunteers provide free, confidential, non-medical services for patients and their families dealing with life-limiting illness or end-of-life decision making.
They also offer grief support for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, whether or not that person has received hospice care.
Cumberland County
The Center for Grieving Children
555 Forest Avenue, Portland & 1209 Main Street, Sanford
Contact Information
Phone: 207-775-5216
Services Available
Call or visit their website for more information on no-cost peer support groups, including:
- Bereavement Groups: Meet weekly. Monday evening virtual meetings. Tuesday - Thursday evenings in Portland. Wednesday evenings in Sanford.
- Groups for ages 3-6, 7-9, 10-13, 14-18 years and parents meet at the same time so the whole family can attend together. Volunteers incorporate art, music, talking, and play into their work with children.
- Young Adults Grief Group: Weekly, small group peer support in Portland for those 19-30 years old who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.
- Bereaved Parents Group: Weekly meetings open to parents who have lost a child, regardless of the child’s age.
- Bereaved Partners Group: Weekly, small group peer support in Portland for individuals up to age 60 who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner.
Contact Us
Rev. Polly Shyka
pauline.shyka@Mainehealth.org
207-505-4410
Virtual Prayer Book
MaineHealth Waldo Hospital Chaplains pray for our patients, care team and community during our daily meetings. You can request prayers by:
- Entering them in the prayer book kept in our Chapel
- Sending an email to our Chaplains
- Completing our secure online form
Please use first names only and try to keep your request brief. Requests will be placed on the prayer list for our next meeting. Your request for prayer is a sacred trust and will be kept confidential.
Well-Wishes
If prayer is not your custom, our team is happy to receive your wish for well-being. Please keep your message positive and brief. Our team will share your message with the appropriate person or group. All messages will be edited to remove personal information about the sender. You can send a message of encouragement and support for a specific individual or care team via email or by completing our online form.