Pastoral Care
Our Mission
Chaplains of the Office of Pastoral Care offer spiritual support to patients, families, and staff. As part of the health care team, we are committed to the care of the whole person. As chaplains, we endeavor to identify the spiritual and emotional needs of all who desire our services. We provide healthy and meaningful care that connects with the person’s spirituality.
As members of the interdisciplinary health care team, we are here to:
- visit patients and families
- listen compassionately
- offer prayer
- help clarify questions of meaning and ethical dilemmas
- respond to crisis and emergency situations
- offer religious services and rituals
- assist patients and families to contact their clergy, spiritual advisor, or community support group
The Office of Pastoral Care makes available:
- Bibles
- Catholic devotional items
- Inspirational reading materials
- Prayer rugs
- Qur’ans
- Sabbath candles
- Sacred literature from diverse traditions
- Yahrzeit candles
The Office of Pastoral Care offers the following educational opportunities:
- in-service presentations to staff members and nursing students
- collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical school; offering a one week pastoral care experience to fourth year medical school students
- Clinical Pastoral Education and Training Program accredited by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy
Chaplaincy Staff
The members of the UPMC Presbyterian interfaith pastoral care team are:
- Reverend Dale Anderson
- Father Jude Anyaeche
- Reverend Andrea Buettner
- Father Dozie Egbe
- Rabbi Larry Heimer
- Father Francis Oranefo
- Father Peter Osuji
Rabbi Heimer is the manager for the pastoral care team. The chaplains see patients by visiting on units as well as by receiving referral requests from patients, family members, and staff.
Special volunteer Ministers of the Eucharist offer Communion to Catholic patients Sunday through Friday.
Catholic Mass is celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, in the UPMC Montefiore Interfaith Meditation Room, 7 Main; 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., Saturdays, UPMC Montefiore Interfaith Meditation Room; and 11:30 a.m., Sunday, UPMC Presbyterian Interfaith Chapel.
A Christian prayer meeting is held each Wednesday the first Tuesday of each month, at 4 p.m., in the Grable Interfaith Chapel, UPMC Presbyterian. .
An Islamic prayer service is held each Friday at 12:30 p.m., in the UPMC Presbyterian Interfaith Chapel.
UPMC Brochures and Booklets
Local Houses of Worship (PDF)
Brochure listing places of worship for a variety of faiths in Oakland, Shadyside, and surrounding areas.
Contact Information
For assistance, call the Pastoral Care office at 412-647-7560. If no one is available to take your call, leave a voice mail message, and a staff chaplain will respond within a short time.
For emergency requests, contact the hospital operator at 412-647-2345, and ask to speak with the primary chaplain. The Pastoral Care office maintains contact with local community clergy of various faith traditions who provide supplemental pastoral services. You may also send e-mail to Rabbi Larry Heimerat heimerls@upmc.edu.