Spiritual Care

Covenant's mission is providing healing for our patients' minds, bodies and spirits. For those in need of a sympathetic ear, compassionate understanding or spiritual guidance, Covenant's Department of Spiritual Care offers 24-hour support. Patients, their families and their friends, no matter what their religious affiliation, are invited to contact a chaplain 24 hours a day for help coping with anxiety, depression, loneliness or uncertainty. Chaplains are also available for consultation on Advanced Directives and end-of-life decisions. Other services include:

Support Groups. Call 806.725.0427 for more about this ministry.

Monthly Memorial Service. The Spiritual Care staff conducts a Memorial Service on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Bickley Memorial Chapel at Covenant Medical Center in honor of those who have passed away.

Channel 2: The Healing Channel. This special broadcast is available in patient rooms and waiting rooms.

Worship. Ecumenical worship services are scheduled throughout the year.

Roman Catholic Mass. Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. in Bickley Memorial Chapel, and Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 a.m. in Covenant Medical Center–Lakeside Chapel.

Special Religious Services. Special services are conducted throughout the year as needed (e.g., Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, etc.).

Sacrament of the Sick. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is available to Roman Catholic patients and the Rite of Anointing to all patients upon request. Call 806.725.0427 to learn more.

Spiritual Care Volunteer Program. Lay persons from all religious backgrounds undergo training at Covenant Medical Center to learn how to assist patients and their families.

Clinical Pastoral Education. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Covenant Health System provides students an opportunity to work as part of the health care team in offering holistic care. Regular ministry to assigned areas plus participation in the hospital’s on-call rotation allows students to gain valuable experience in crisis ministry.

The CPE Program at Covenant is accredited to offer the following programs:

  • Extended Program. Designed for people who have full-time commitments elsewhere who wish to participate in a CPE unit, this program gives participants the flexibility to use their current place of ministry toward the required clinical hours for a unit of CPE. The one-day-a-week program begins in January and August.
  • Extended Ministry Development. This service is created to provide support, guidance and education for United Methodist clergy who are having difficulty meeting the expectations for ministry and are in need of support and renewal, or are considering new directions in their vocation. The program begins in January and August.
  • Summer Intensive Intern Program. The program is designed for seminary students or others who wish to participate in an 11-week intensive full-time CPE Program. The program begins in June.
  • Residency Program. Those preparing for ministry in specialized settings are the focus of this program. It is a comprehensive, year-long, full-time program, which begins in August.

Covenant is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age disability or faith group.

For more information on the Department of Spiritual Care or the Clinical Pastoral Education program, call 806.725.0604.