Upcoming EventsThe Montefiore Nyack Hospital Pastoral Care Department is a ministry that provides emotional and spiritual support to patients, their families, and the hospital staff. We serve people of all faiths and those without a formal faith community. Chaplains are part of the healing team of doctors, nurses, and other caregivers. Spiritual care is affirmed as an integral part of the holistic team approach to health care. It may include responding to crises, resolving ethical questions regarding care, providing spiritual support, and contacting priests, rabbis, imams, or other religious representatives as requested.
Chaplains and local clergy are available on request for individual patient and family visits. A chaplain can provide counseling or arrange for a visit from a representative of your personal faith tradition.
Our Ministry includes:
• Anointing for healing
• Blessings and prayers
• Commendation of the dying
• Visits from the chaplain
• Providing sacraments or rituals
• Helping obtain information
• Provision of religious reading material
• Shabbos rooms
• Roman Catholic Eucharist
The Anthony Romano Chapel, located on the hospital’s first floor, is available 24 hours daily. It offers comfort and peace to people of all faiths and denominations. Religious literature is available for patients, staff, and visitors. A prayer book is available for those who wish to offer their prayers in writing or to request prayers.
Requests and Referrals Patients and families of all faiths can request a visit with a Chaplain. Any member of the health team can assist with making a referral. People call on chaplains for many reasons. Some of the most common include:
• Apprehension of surgery
• Overwhelming illness
• Loneliness and isolation
• Discouragement and despair
• Helplessness and hopelessness
• Loss of meaning and purpose
• Fear and anxiety
• Conflict with others
• Facing change and loss
• Struggling with the meaning of life
• Feeling cut off from God
• Grappling with questions about life and death
• Needing the comfort of prayer
• Decisions regarding a living will and advance directives
• Working through the loss of a loved one
• Facing ethical dilemmas
Credentials are not required for clergy to visit with their congregation members. Clergy may complete an application, background check, and health screening annually if they wish to volunteer and receive a Montefiore Nyack Hospital Pastoral Care ID Card.
Patients or family members can contact the Pastoral Care office at ext. 2182 from a hospital phone or 845-348-2182 from an external telephone during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
For after-hour emergencies, call the hospital switchboard by dialing zero from a hospital phone or 845-348-2000 from an external telephone.
To reach our Orthodox Jewish Liaison, Reuben Austerlistz, call 845-825-7000.
For more information, call the Pastoral Care Director, Chaplain Robert Carter, at 845-348-2182 or email carterR@montefiorenyack.org.
845-348-2182 – Pastoral Care Office
845-348-2000 – After hours emergencies
845-825-7000 – Orthodox Jewish Liaison
carterR@montefiorenyack.org - Pastoral Care Director, Chaplain Robert Carter