Spiritual Care Resources

The diagnosis of cancer often carries with it significant and sometimes overwhelming stress. At such times, it is natural to look to others for support.

Visit us

The Spiritual Care office is located the first floor of the Hospital, Room 1401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Religious articles and reading materials are also available. For more information contact 716-845-8051.

The chaplains in the Spiritual Care Department are familiar with, and sensitive to, the issues that accompany illness, and will respect the individual beliefs and preferences of you and your family in dealing with your illness.

Chaplains provide spiritual care to all persons regardless of religious affiliation. You do not have to belong to a faith congregation or even consider yourself religious to request a chaplain. We are ready to visit with you and your loved ones, and hope to be of service to you while you are at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Chaplains visit inpatients and outpatients Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. A chaplain is also available to visit you on the weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you would like to visit with a chaplain, please call extension 8051, or ask your physician, nurse or other member of your Roswell Park health care team to make the request for you.

Chaplains are also available 24 hours a day to respond to the urgent spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families.

Legacy Pillow Project Hand Mold Project

Life Recorded Program

Roswell Park offers employees, patients and families an opportunity to share meaningful stories and life experiences through personal recorded interviews through Life Recorded - a project inspired by StoryCorps Legacy. To learn how you can tell your own story through Life Recorded, call 716-845-8051.

Download the brochure

Submit a prayer request

The diagnosis of cancer impacts patients and their love ones physically, emotionally and spiritually. Often times, people will turn to prayer to help cope with the challenges that a cancer diagnosis brings. Through prayer, our goal as a Spiritual Care Team is to help nurture your spiritual well-being, so that you may find peace, comfort and strength during this time. You may always submit a prayer request to our team.

Your prayer concerns are important to us and that is why each and every prayer request we receive is prayed for by members of the Spiritual Care Team. Be assured, our prayer support is confidential.

Submit your prayer request

Other services

Chaplains work with physicians, nurses and other members of the psychosocial oncology team to ensure the total care of patients and their families. They provide spiritual counseling and minister to the spiritual, emotional and psychosocial needs of patients, family members and friends at all stages of the treatment process.

  • Protestant and Roman Catholic Chaplains provide sacraments, spiritual counseling and religious literature upon request.
  • There are also 37 clergy and religious leaders of different faith traditions who serve as consultants to Roswell Park.
  • A community Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain are available to help with rituals and traditions of the Jewish faith.
  • One of our Protestant chaplains is bi-lingual and speaks Spanish.
  • Lay volunteers and participants in chaplaincy training programs also minister to patients and families under the direct supervision of the staff chaplains.
  • Bibles, prayer leaflets, and religious articles are available in the Spiritual Care Office.

Worship Services/Holy Day Observances/Festivals

The “all faith” Meditation and Prayer Room located on the first floor of the hospital (Room 1400) is open 24 hours for patients, family members and friends for meditation and prayer. Weekly services are scheduled as well as special services for a wide variety of religions are scheduled throughout the year. The service schedule for each month can be found posted on the Meditation and Prayer Room door. You can also call the office of Spiritual Care at 716-845-8051 for information.

Weekly Services

  • Roman Catholic Mass: Monday and Wednesday, 12 p.m.
  • Muslim Prayer: Friday, 1:30 p.m. or when the Meditation and Prayer Room is available
  • Prayer and Worship Service: Thursday, 12 p.m.

Monthly Services

  • Protestant Communion: First Sunday of the month.
  • Holy Days/Observances/Festivals for different religions as appropriate
  • Bedside Services are available upon request.

The Chaplains will do all they can to help patients and their family members observe religious practices during a hospital stay.

Our chaplains

  • Rev. Dr, Melody Rutherford
  • Rev. Dr, Reninger Flores
  • Rev. (Fr.) Joseph Porpiglia
  • Chaplain Joseph Blatz

Meet the team

Spiritual Care resources

Brochures

Department of Spiritual Care Overview Spiritual Care resources for staff Catholic patient brochure Jewish patient brochure Muslim patient brochure Protestant patient brochure

Prayer Books

Prayers of Hope and Comfort Healing Words of WisdomSacred Time... Sacred Space

The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center at Roswell Park offers many books and information. They can assist with learning more about spirituality and cancer.

Learn more