Kapelan szpitalny – persona grata

Abstract

This paper deals with the role and importance of a hospital chaplain by trying to answer the following questions: What is the opinion of Polish society on a chaplain’s ministry? Is a priest welcome by patients? What are the expectations of doctors and hospital staff towards chaplains? Those questions were answered in a questionnaire distributed among patients and physicians from five hospital departments in Bydgoszcz. Some were multiple choice questions. In all those responses, some of which were critical, one opinion seemed to prevail – a chaplain is an important person playing a significant role in the therapeutic process. Both patients and hospital staff have well defined expectations towards priests, at the same time expressing a friendly attitude. The very presence of a chaplain seems to be important to patients. It should also be noted that hospital staff may need spiritual support too. Chaplains, who offer a good word, solace and comfort, apart from their sacramental ministry, have a deeply Christian and humane dimension.