Priest
Massachusetts General Hospital(MGH)

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The primary responsibility of a priest is to provide sacramental care to patients, families, visitors and staff. Patients are seen at the bedside or in outpatient settings as assigned. Priests are also charged with developing and leading hospital-wide and community mass during assigned days, Holy Days, Feast Days, Advent, Lent, and other Days of Obligation. Priests work as team members in accordance with the Department's Mission and Vision Statements, following Department's Administrative Policies and Procedures.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assessment: The priest gathers and evaluates relevant data pertinent to the situation and/or bio-psycho-social-spiritual/religious health of the patient and/or family member.
• Delivery of Care: The priest develops and implements a plan of care to promote the well-being and continuity of care of the patient and/or family member. This includes such work as visitation, performing religious rituals as requested and appropriate and such specific services as weddings and memorial services in accordance with departmental policies. Visitation includes sharing in the department's on-call rotation including days, nights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled; and when on-call is needed on short notice for emergencies.
• Documentation of Care: The priest enters information into the patient's medical record that is relevant to the patient's medical, psychosocial, and spiritual/religious goals of care. The priest maintains daily records of his sacramental care activities in accordance with Department's data gathering tool in use.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: The priest collaborates with the Spiritual Care department staff, interdisciplinary teams of care focusing on patients and family members. Teamwork includes engaging in departmental staff meetings, retreats, and physician-family meetings. Collaboration includes working with local clergy and religious leaders and organizations. The priest collaborates with the ACPE Certified Educator in teaching classes pertinent to CPE students. The priest performs other duties as required, assigned, or negotiated.
• Ethical Practice: The priest adheres to the code of ethics of his religious tradition, diocese, and order and the code of ethics of the MGH organization.
• Confidentiality: The priest respects the confidentiality of information from all sources, including the patient, medical record, other team members, and family members in accordance with federal and state laws, and the policies of the organization.
• Respect for Diversity: The priest models and collaborates with the organization and its interdisciplinary team in respecting and providing culturally competent patient-centered care.
• Care for Staff: The priest provides timely and sensitive sacramental and spiritual care to the organization's staff via individual and group interaction.
• Care for the Organization: The priest provides spiritual care to the organization in ways consonant with the organization's values and mission. This includes (1) the planning and leading of masses; (2) maintaining the tabernacle area/ sacristy; (3) collaborating with Spiritual Care Providers and the SC department's administrative assistant for supplies needed for Holy Days, Feast Days, Advent, Lent, and other events as recognized; (4) consecrating hosts as needed for distribution by the Eucharistic Ministers to patients, families, visitors, and staff; and (5) offering special masses for Holy Days, Feast Days, Advent, Lent, and when needed for special occasions.
• Knowledge and Continuing Education: The priest must have knowledge of the theology, traditions, and ethical principles of the Catholic Church and integrates such information into practice. He assumes responsibility for 50 hours of continued professional development per year.
• Continuous Quality Improvement: The priest seeks and creates opportunities to enhance the quality of sacramental care practice, which include performing other duties as required, assigned, or negotiated.
• Priest as Leader: The priest provides leadership in their professional practice setting and profession. This includes providing educational events for patients, family members and/or staff on a regular basis.

Qualifications
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

Professional:

• Clarity of pastoral identity and role in a nonsectarian institutional setting
• Knowledgeable about ministry to persons of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to relate theology, behavioral science, ethics and understanding of persons to help minister to patients/families in their struggles
• Good organizational skills

Personal:

• A spiritual life grounded in the disciplines of prayer, contemplation, meditation and reflection
• Compassion for the sick and their families
• Maturity and ability to function under stressful conditions
• Resourcefulness and cooperativeness in relationship with others
• Commitment to personal and professional growth

Licenses (Required):

• Ordained and in good standing with the Bishop or Superior of his home diocese or Order

Certifications (Preferred):

• Certified or in the process of certification/connection with a national chaplaincy organization

Registrations (Preferred):

• Endorsement for hospital chaplaincy from the ecclesiastical or religious body to which he belongs

EDUCATION (Required):

• Ordained and in good with the Bishop or Superior of his home diocese or Order
  
• Certificate: Two or more CPE Units
  
• Bachelor's Degree
  

EDUCATION (Preferred):

• Certificate: Three or more CPE Units
• Master's Degree in Theology or Divinity
• Field of Study/Additional Specialized Training: Ministry Studies; Masters of Divinity or Theology preferred

It is possible for a commitment to be negotiated with the Director of Spiritual Care and Clinical Pastoral Education to engage in CPE during employment and/or to complete an appropriate Master's Degree.

EXPERIENCE (Preferred):

• At least one year's experience in hospital spiritual care; preferably in a large teaching hospital

EEO Statement
Massachusetts General Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. Applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged.

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