Pastoral Care at TUH

Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteers provide support through the volunteering of Eucharistic Ministers and Pastoral Visitors, we also provide training for Healthcare Chaplaincy.

If you are interested in volunteering with our Pastoral Care Team please contact the Director of Pastoral Care:
John Kelly via email: john.kelly@tuh.ie or Tel: 01 414 2482, you can also click here to find out further information on the extensive volunteering opportunities at Tallaght University Hospital. 

Multi-Faith

We can liaise with leaders of Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and other faiths or philosophies at your request.   

Muslim Prayer (in Contemplation Room)
Friday  1:30pm – 2:00pm

Healing Scenes Scriptures

‘Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed’

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.  Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue.  He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.

As he went, the crowds pressed in on him.  Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians,  no one could cure her.  She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her haemorrhage stopped. 

Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?”  When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.”  But Jesus said, “Someone touched me;  for I noticed that power had gone out from me.”  When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling;  and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well;  go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead;  do not trouble the teacher any longer.”  When Jesus heard this, he replied, “Do not fear.  Only believe, and she will be saved.”  When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother.  They were all weeping and wailing for her;  but he said, “Do not weep;  for she is not dead but sleeping.” 

And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  But he took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”  Her spirit returned, and she got up at once.  Then he directed them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were astounded;  but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8: 40-56

‘Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac’

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. 

For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.  When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you, do not torment me” – for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  (For many times it had seized him;  he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.)  Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?”  He said, “Legion”;  for many demons had entered him.  They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 
 
Now on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding;  and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these.  So he gave them permission.  Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.  Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.

Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed.  Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them;  for they were seized with great fear.  So he got into the boat and returned.  The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him;  but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”  So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8: 26-39

‘A Blind Beggar recognises the Son of David’

As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening.  They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 

There he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet;  but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him;  and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”  He said, “Lord, let me see again.”  Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight;  your faith has saved you.”  Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God;  and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. Luke 18:35 - 43

'Jesus Cleanses a Leper'

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man with leprosy.  When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”  Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose.  Be made clean.”  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And he ordered him to tell no one. 

“Go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.”  But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad;  many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.  But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. Luke: 5:12 -16

Chapel Services

Monday – Friday 1:30pm Mass
Sunday               8:15am Mass for staff
Sunday               10:30am Mass for patients & families,
The Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated after Mass – all are welcome

Roman Catholic Ministers of the Eucharist visit the wards:
Sunday             after 10:30am Mass
Wednesday       approx. 10am
Friday               approx. 10am

Contemplation Room
The Contemplation Room is a quiet space for all peoples. It is a sacred space for all faith traditions and none, for those of no spiritual preference or faith. It is also used for cultural events.

Hospital Chapel

The Chapel is located on the ground floor, and is open all day, for quiet reflection. An Induction Loop (PIC) system is in operation.

The Chapel

The stained glass window on the left hand side was made possible by a gift from the Meath Foundation and the Meath Past Nurses.  It represents HEALING: Hope, New Life and Resurrection.

The window on the right hand side was made possible by a gift from the Board of the Hospital. It represents STRUGGLE: Suffering and Pain. 

Both windows were designed and executed by James Scanlon of Cork.

The designing and furnishing of this chapel was inspired by the belief that in a place of healing and wholeness such as a hospital, the place of Christian worship should be suitable for use by all those who call on the name of the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  

We were commissioned together from many traditions of Christ’s people to give Glory to God, who as the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, surrounds us with love and calls us to healing and wholeness. The Chapel expresses this for us through the senses of sight, sound, scent, touch and taste. 

The Chapel incorporates most if not all of the central features and symbols of the historic Christian Church. 

Baptist, Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic understandings guided our thinking. The Architects of the Hospital, Robinson, Keefe and Devane, translated our conceptions into designs. It is our profound prayer that all who seek solace, comfort and refreshment in this place can share our joy in its creation.

The THEOTOKOS, which means God Bearer, was made possible by a gift from the Central Council of the Federated Dublin Voluntary Hospitals. It was designed and executed by Anna Duncan of Dublin.

The word ‘Theotokos’ literally means ‘the one who gives birth to God’. The title was officially given to Mary at the Council of Ephesus in 431AD. This Council was called to establish, as orthodox, the belief that Jesus was truly God incarnate, i.e. fully God and fully man. This concept was being vigorously challenged at the time. The title ‘Theotokos’ could rightly be given to Mary because according to the Scriptures He who was conceived of her by the Holy Spirit was called the Son of God. According to St. Cyril of Alexandria ‘to confess our faith in orthodox fashion… it is enough to confess that the Holy Virgin is Theotokos.’ 

St. John Damascene wrote ‘This name – Theotokos – contains the whole mystery of the incarnation.’  Much later Martin Luther could write ‘Without doubt Mary is the mother of God…and in this word is contained every honour which can be given to her.’  To say that Mary was the Birth-Giver of God is to confess a stunning mystery. It witnesses to a moment when the Creator of all things awoke to the softness of human touch, the sweetness of a human smile and the sound of a gentle voice. It means that God lifted his face to the morning dawn, smelled the spring blossoms and lived among the poor, the homeless and the hungry. It means that God has shared all of life, its joys and tears, light and darkness, happiness and pain. By an extraordinary exchange, the Divine was born of the stardust He created, became a son of the human race and made us in turn daughters and sons of God. The Theotokos in the hospital chapel is a reminder of God’s partnership with us in suffering as in health.

How We Can Help

• A listening ear 
• A non-judgmental presence 
• A ministry of hope and healing 
• A word of prayer 
• Arrangements for Sacraments 
• A support in decision making 
• Advice to help you examine questions about your faith or beliefs 
• Advocacy 
• A support to your family and friends

Healing involves caring for you as a whole person and meeting your needs not just on the physical level, but also on the spiritual and religious levels. With this in mind, the hospital offers you the services of the Pastoral Care Team. We aim to help people of all faiths and none.

The members of the ecumenical Pastoral Care Team are trained healthcare chaplains from four main Christian traditions. Each Chaplain serves as a member of the healing team working with all those who care for you. For further information on Pastoral Care at TUH please click here.