Overview
Our founders and our partners in the ministry of healing, The Sisters of St. Joseph Third Order of St. Francis, came to Garfield Heights in 1908 to fulfill their teaching mission for Polish youth here. In 1926 they opened an all-girl high school named St. Joseph Academy which became Marymount High School and today is co-ed Trinity High School. Marymount Hospital followed in 1949, later adding a Mental Health Center, a School of Practical Nursing, the Medical Office Building, and, in 1995 affiliating with Cleveland Clinic. The Sisters didn’t stop there. Continuing to respond to the needs of the area they added Marymount Place (104 apartment suites for assisted living) in 1988 and Villa St. Joseph (skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, memory care and Palliative care) in 2007.
In the center of it all is the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa a place of pilgrimage. It is a blessed reminder of Mary’s own service to our Lord which enflames the hearts of the Sisters. Our Lady of Czestochowa is well known in Poland. Saint Pope John Paul II came to visit the Shrine and blessed the Sisters prior to being elected Pope.
We strive to live our mission daily:
“…to provide excellent health care guided by the Christian values of service, compassion, dignity and respect.”
The Mission Committee of the Board of Trustees of Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital oversees the catholicity of Marymount by assuring that we live our Mission and fulfill the spirit and requirements of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
The work of the Mission Committee of the Board of Trustees includes:
- Assuring compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services throughout Marymount Hospital and its facilities.
- Annually conducting a Mission Audit and preparing an annual Mission Report.
- Supporting and advocating for Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital’s Catholic religious mission.
- Working with the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis on Leadership formation.
- Supporting the Pastoral Care Department and its related initiatives.
- Advocating for the health care needs of the community as part of the Hospital’s strategic initiatives.
What are the Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs)?
The ERDs, a document of US Conference of Catholic Bishops, are the standards of behavior and practice everyone affiliated with Marymount must meet.
They include:
- A hospital’s social responsibility.
- Pastoral and spiritual responsibilities.
- Professional-patient relationships.
- Issues in care for the beginning of life.
- Issues in care for the seriously ill and dying.
- Collaborative arrangements with other health care organizations and providers.
The ERDs is a document of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Mission Effectiveness Committee assists the Director of Pastoral Care in meeting the annual goals of the Mission Committee. Contact the Director of Pastoral Care at 216-587-8141.
Pastoral Care
Marymount Hospital Pastoral Care
The Pastoral Care Department provides for the religious and spiritual needs of those who come through our doors, including patients, their families and loved ones, and colleagues.
Our clinically trained chaplains are committed to providing appropriate and compassionate spiritual care while respecting each person’s spirituality, religious tradition, and values. The mission of the department is to provide pastoral care, spiritual assessment, healing comfort in illness, information and assistance with issues related to beginning and end of life, trauma, and death.
Our team of trained clergy and lay chaplains and community clergy from a variety of local congregations provides diverse, holistic interventions based on the specific needs of the person seeking the services. Catholic sacraments are available regularly. Patients and their families also have access to a diverse set of spiritually and religiously inflected music, videos, and presentations.
The Chapel is located on the first floor near the gift shop, cafeteria, and statues of St. Francis and St. Joseph. It is a sacred space for silence, reflection, and prayer. Please call the Office of the Director of Pastoral Care (216.587.8141) to ask for services or to leave a message with a patient/family’s name, room number and other request as needed.
Spiritual Care Staff
The Director of Pastoral Care and team of chaplains are available upon request (see below for more on how to request) and are regularly rounding as well.
The staff priest is on site to celebrate 10:30 am mass Friday through Tuesday. Catholic sacraments are available regularly.
Our volunteers include clergy of many Christian denominations, and liaisons or chaplains from other faith traditions provide additional support.
Alumni Library’s Spiritual Care LibGuide
Alumni Library’s Spiritual Care libguide, a collection of resources pertinent to a specified subject area, for example, print books, ebooks, journals, and databases.
How to Request a Chaplain
Chaplains are available weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for routine visits. We also have community-based clergy and volunteers of specific faith traditions who visit patients of the same faith tradition upon request. To request a spiritual care referral or have the chaplains paged, please call 216.581.0500. For non-urgent requests, you can call the Pastoral Care Department at 216.587.8141 or 216.587.8140. It is helpful – but not required – to include a comment about the reason for the request.
Some of the reasons for requesting a chaplain: a patient, family member, loved one or caregiver is:
- Anxious, frightened, or upset about their or their patient’s health condition.
- Struggling with the meaning of their illness or asking “Why?” questions.
- Receiving bad news or is facing a difficult decision.
- Having trouble sorting out their feelings and thoughts.
- Indicating their faith as an important part of their life/health.
- Asking religious questions or would like someone to pray with.
- Requesting a religious sacrament or rite.
- Grieving over a loss, including loss due to illness or injury.
- Facing life-changing or end-of-life issues.
- Needing help to find appropriate spiritual support within their faith tradition.
Opportunities for Giving or Volunteering
Many of our services are supported by generous donations of time, talent, or treasure by individuals, groups, and institutions. The chaplains assist in various charitable works, including the monthly fresh produce distribution, the internal pantry for caregivers, and the emergency closet for patients in special times of need. Those who recognize the importance of spiritual and emotional support at Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital may want to help support our programs.
If you would like to help, or for more information, please contact the Director of Pastoral Care at 216.587.8141.
Ethical Questions
Reporting ERD non-compliance or simply asking questions
If you have a question about the ERDs, or need to report an incident of possible non-compliance, complete the form below. You may remain anonymous or provide your name. If you would like to receive a response from a member of the Marymount Hospital Pastoral Care team, please include your name and phone number or email.
