Chaplain services
VA Indiana health care chaplains serve people of all faiths and denominations as well as patients and families looking for non-denominational support. They are here to listen and offer spiritual and emotional support as you struggle with tough questions and ethical decisions.
If you are admitted to a VA hospital, you should be asked a screening question: “Are there religious practices or spiritual concerns you want the chaplain, your physician, and other health care team members to immediately know about?” If your answer “yes,” a Chaplain will meet with you. If you answer “no” or are just having a routine visit, you can ask to meet with a Chaplain at any time. It is always the Veteran's choice.
Spiritual and religious services
Our chaplains help patients and family members through outpatient treatment, hospital stays, and extended care. If needed, they will contact your personal clergy or spiritual care provider in the community. Our chaplains are clinical pastoral care specialists who provide religious and non-religious people with services* such as:
- Baptisms
- Bereavement (grief and loss) care
- Comfort and counseling
- Communion
- Funerals
- Weddings
*All services are subject to staffing considerations.
Worship services
People of all faiths and traditions are invited to attend:
- Protestant worship: Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET
- Catholic Mass:
- Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET
- Monday and Wednesday, at 12:00 p.m. ET
Benefits
Research shows that spiritually active patients experience or report:
- Faster healing
- Greater coping skills
- Reduced pain
- Better quality of life
Interfaith Chapel
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center
Constitution Wing
Second floor
Map of Indiana campus
Hours: Coming soon!
Your Chaplain Service Team
Our 3-Fold Responsibility to You
- To ensure that Veterans (both inpatients and outpatients) receive appropriate spiritual and pastoral care, as desired or requested by the Veteran;
- To ensure that all Veteran’s constitutional right to free exercise of religion is protected; and
- To protect Veterans from having religion imposed upon them.
As part of the VA health care team, Chaplains are here for you and your family regardless of your religious background or spiritual orientation. We provide the following activities in support of your religious freedoms.
- Prayer, meditation and reading of holy texts
- Worship and observance of holy days
- Blessings and Sacraments to include the Anointing of the Sick
- Memorial Services and Funerals
- Holiday Observances
Appointments
Contact us to schedule, reschedule, or cancel your appointment
Phone:
Referral required? No
Walk-ins accepted? Yes
Hours
Monday-0730-1700
Tuesday-0630-1830
Wednesday-0630-1830
Thursday-0630-1830
Friday-0730-1830
Saturday-1000-1830
Sunday-0630-1500
Page 317-310-8553 for Spiritual Care Emergencies.
If you have spiritual concerns that have not been addressed, or for more information, please contact the Chaplain Service Program Support Assistant: 317-988-4355. You may also inform any VA Medical Center staff member that you are in need of chaplain services and they will help you to reach a chaplain.