The chaplaincy service is confidential and available to people of every faith and background.
What the service does
During times of illness and crisis, you may find your spiritual needs increase. You and your families may get strength and hope from religious beliefs. Sometimes you may just want someone to talk to.
Chaplains offer spiritual and religious support to all who need it. They can talk about anything that is important to you and your family. They will listen without judging and can offer prayer and sacraments.
Who the service is for
The chaplaincy service is for everyone, whether you have religious faith or not.
The chaplaincy team on the hospital sites includes representatives from the following religious traditions:
- Christian denominations
- Buddhist
- Hindu
- Jewish
- Muslim
- Jehovah’s Witness
The chaplaincy team also includes Humanist and non-religious representatives.
The chaplaincy service has contact details for representatives from other faith groups, who can be contacted if requested.
How to access the service
In our acute hospitals, chaplains are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, chaplains are not present on hospital sites at all times. Staff will contact the relevant chaplain on request.
Chaplains regularly visit the wards to talk and listen to patients. They can also take referrals from other staff or from family or clergy.
You should be asked if you want a representative from the chaplaincy service to support you during your stay in hospital. Otherwise, the chaplains will not know you want their support.
Some hospitals have religious services and prayer times scheduled. Some also have chapel and quiet room spaces that are available for everyone to use. See below for the details for each hospital.
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Belfast City Hospital
Church
The church is located beside the Trust offices on A Floor. It is open 24 hours a day for private prayer and reflection. Although the church is a Christian place of worship, everyone is welcome to visit and spend time there.
Services
- Mass: Sunday at 8.15am and 11.15am, weekdays and holy days by arrangement
- United church service: Sunday at 9.30am and other times by arrangement
- Staff prayer group: Thursday at 1.15pm
Quiet room
The quiet room is located on Level 1 of the Cancer Centre. It is open 24 hours a day for private prayer, reflection, or simply as a place to think. Everyone is welcome to use the quiet room.
Services
- Christian prayer and reflection time: Tuesday at 12.30pm
- Mass: Wednesday at 2pm (first and third Wednesday each month)
- Muslim prayers: Friday lunchtime
-
Royal Victoria Hospital
Church
There is a chapel on the Victorian corridor of the old hospital building. It is open every day for Christian prayer and reflection.
Services
- Mass: Sunday at 8.10am and 10am, feast days by arrangement
- Chaplains arrange other services as the need arises
Quiet room
There is a quiet room in the foyer of the main Royal Victoria Hospital building. It is open every day for private prayer, reflection, or simply as a place to think. Everyone is welcome to use the quiet room.
Services
- Christian prayer time: Thursday at 12.30pm
- Prayer for Muslims: Friday at 1.30pm (1pm during the winter)
-
Mater Hospital
Church
The Mater has a chapel at the heart of the hospital complex.
Services
- Mass: Sunday at 8.10am
- Interdenominational services are held by the Presbyterian, Methodist and Church of Ireland chaplains on a rota each Tuesday at 12.30pm in the Chairman’s Office
-
Musgrave Park Hospital
Church
The church is located on the corridor between Withers and Meadowlands. It is open every day from 9am to 5pm.
Everyone is welcome to visit the church for private prayer and to share in the services.
Services
- Mass: Sunday at 8.15am, holy days and feast days at 1.15pm or by arrangement
- United church service: Sunday at 10am
- Chaplains arrange other services as the need arises
-
Muckamore Abbey Hospital
Services
- Mass: Saturday at 10am
- Other special services are arranged throughout the year, including Harvest and Christmas
- A weekly service is held in Moyola Day Care, alternating between Fridays at 11am and Thursdays at 1.30pm
-
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Church
There is a small church on the Knockbracken site, between the Knockbracken Clinic and Inver building.
Services
- Interdenominational service each Sunday at 9am
Ministers of Holy Communion also visit wards on Sundays from 9.30am.