Pastoral care in the hospital: where closeness and spirituality meet

Pastoral care in the hospital: where closeness and spirituality meet

In the heart of the Styrian hospitals, an important pastoral work is done, which has changed significantly in recent years. Maximilian Tödtling, head of the Diocese of Graz-Seckau Diocese, reported how the areas of responsibility extend to the accompaniment of patients, their relatives and the entire hospital staff. Always under the motto: "We go where others don't go," the focus is on human and spiritual support. The pastors not only act as a contact person in difficult times, but also accompany people from different religions, without prejudices and with the greatest respect for their individual needs. So Tödtling emphasizes: "We don't ask first 'Are you Catholic?', But encounter people in need."

rituals and spiritual support

In his speech before the world's day of the sick on February 11th, Tödtling explains that the pastors also offer rituals that are not only religiously open, but also include profound traditions such as the health communion or the sacrament of the anointing to the sick. "These rituals can help to overcome their own language and helplessness," he explains. One of the tasks of hospital counseling is to support patients in their spiritual questions, which are often shaped by existential fears: "Why do I have to suffer?" or "God forgot me?" Many people strain these questions, often particularly in stressful situations such as the death of children. The pastors are ready to accompany these questions and endure the pain together, such as Kathpress

The importance of this work is evident through the constant demand, which leads to the training of new pastors. From autumn 2025 courses will be offered again to train future pastors. The need is high and the accompaniment of relatives and hospital employees in demand, as it were, to ensure holistic support in the hospital. According to Meinekirchenzeitung this form of pastoral care plays a decisive role that goes beyond the mere care of patients and space for deep conversations and spiritual reflection creates.