« Patients & Guests

Caring for Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Our organizational mission statement is, “To reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality Franciscan health care ministry.”

Patient in hospital bed and member of our spiritual care team hold hands

Since the founding of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, we have been caring for our patients in a holistic way, meeting the needs of their bodies, minds and spirits. As part of The Hospital Sisters Health System, whose mission is to reveal and embody Christ's healing love for all people through our high quality Franciscan health care ministry, St. Mary's is Decatur's only faith-based hospital.

In addition to the exceptional medical care we provide, we also have professional chaplains available 24 hours every day to offer spiritual and emotional support to our patients, their families and staff. Chaplains closely collaborate with religious leaders of all faiths to provide seamless support for our patients, especially during times of uncertainty. They serve as liaisons between the health care team and the family during crisis, and they are a wonderful resource for patients and families in discussing with them the patient's wishes, especially when, at times, ethical decisions need to be made. They provide opportunities for prayer, sacraments and spiritual rituals the patient and/or family may desire.

Chaplains are available to discuss organ/tissue donation, explain Advance Directives (Living Will, Power of Attorney for Healthcare, Do Not Resuscitate), and to assist those who want to complete these documents. A chaplain also serves on the Ethics Committee at St. Mary's and is available to explain the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services and to assist patients and their families in applying these guidelines especially in making appropriate moral and ethical decisions.

Contact Information

For more information about HSHS St. Mary's Spiritual Care & Mission Integration, please call 217-464-2045. To speak with a chaplain for urgent needs, please call the operator at 217-464-2966 and let the operator page the chaplain on-call.

Our Chapel

A place of peace and tranquility. The Hospital Chapel is a quiet place for reflection that is enhanced by the luminous beauty of the stained glass windows and a stately main altar.

Normally, the chapel is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and is located on the 1st floor.

Learn more about spiritual care at HSHS St. Mary's Hospital.

Mass
Mass is celebrated in the chapel on Tuesday and Thursday of every week at 11:30 a.m., and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m.

Chapel Channel
A camera is in the chapel, and Masses and services are available to view on Channel 73.

WDCR Radio
Decatur Catholic Radio WDCR 88.9FM often airs programming or services from the hospital.

Looking up at a stained glass cross with vibrant colors

Prayer Request

To submit a prayer request to the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, please click the button below.

Spirituality Series

Each year, Sister Anna Phiri presents a spirituality series that is open to the public. Visit our events page to learn more about upcoming series.

Mother and daughter walking down a sidewalk holding hands

Support Groups

For individualized support for grief or infant loss, please call 217-464-2045.

Grief Support can help with the pain of losing someone we love. We can help you to get on the path toward coping and healing.

Share support is for parents who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at birth or in early infancy.

With Share healing is slowly and gently promoted. Parents gain insight and understanding, vent their feelings, express their attitudes and experiences in an accepting atmosphere.

For more information about our Angel of Hope Share Garden, click here.