Pastoral Care
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is
to minister to the whole person, recognizing that our faith and spirituality
should be utilized, strengthened, and nourished. We respect and care for
the emotional, spiritual, and mental needs of those we serve.
Our vision is to embody the love and grace of Christ to team members, residents, families, visitors, and the community. With prayer, comfort, presence, and counsel,
we aspire to provide this through integrated spiritual care.
How We Serve
As an organization founded on Christian principles, we believe that every person has a spiritual need and identity that deserves to be affirmed and nurtured. Our pastoral care team is here not to preach or evangelize but to accompany everyone on their journey, with eyes to see, ears to hear needs, open hearts and minds to understand different perspectives, and strong shoulders to help carry burdens. These are things from which people of all faiths, or even no faith, can benefit.
Ordained ministers serve as full-time chaplains for all our programs and services. They provide individual care, counseling, and prayer, as well as community-wide worship and small-group experiences to explore issues of faith. They are also available to meet with family members for comfort and consultation.
Our chaplains work closely with local clergy of various denominations and faiths to help them remain involved with their congregants who are staying at Christian Health. While ecumenical worship services are offered several times each week, we also host services of other faiths, including Catholic Mass and sacraments, rabbinical visits, and visits from other spiritual leaders.
Services we offer across campus include:
- Individual and small-group spiritual care and counseling
- Regular worship services
- Daily Bible study
- Overhead devotions
- Monthly Communion
We also offer diverse programs throughout the year for area clergy and church professionals, such as Clergy Day, a full-day event that has featured nationally recognized speakers.
Serving the Community
Pastoral Care services are also available to the greater community through the Christian Health Speakers Bureau. Team members are available to speak on various topics at meetings, conferences, and other gatherings. We have made presentations such as “Spirituality and Aging” to community groups. Christian Health chaplains also regularly serve as guest chaplains for area churches.
Our monthly Faith & Grief luncheons provide an opportunity for people dealing with grief and loss to share a meal and connect with others who are experiencing the same challenges. Trained facilitators, typically clergy from various local religious institutions, run the small-group sessions, where participants benefit from the ministry of compassion and connection.
For more information about Faith & Grief and our other community services,
please call
(201) 848-5839.
Our Clinical Pastoral Education Program
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a professional training and education program for ministry. Under supervision, theology students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders, and qualified laypersons meet with our patients and residents to develop their pastoral identity and enhance skills, such as interpersonal and pastoral assessment skills, professional collaboration, group leadership, pastoral care and counseling, and pastoral theological reflection.
For more information please contact us at CPEProgram@ChristianHealthNJ.org or (201) 848-5839.
"It fills me with pride to create sacred space for people to feel seen, heard, and spiritually held –whether that’s praying with a resident, walking with a grieving family, or simply listening without judgment when someone needs to talk. Every time I help someone reconnect with hope, with peace, or with God, I’m reminded why this calling matters." – Rev. James Steward, DMin