VA Chaplains - Comfort, Support, Lead, Advocate, Counsel, Mediate and Educate
Chaplains have many roles. They are available for both happy and difficult times. They put the patient and the family members first.
Primary Role of VA Chaplains:
- Listen to you and your family, respecting what you have been through
- Provide support to you and your family
- Help with decision-making
- Support difficult end-of-life decisions
- Help with advance directives. These are legal forms giving directions about your wishes for your health care. They are used if you become unable to make decisions for yourself due to a medical condition. You can learn more about advance care planning at the following VA website: https://www.va.gov/geriatrics/guide/longtermcare/advance_Care_Planning.asp#
- Support and work with you to answer tough questions
- Perform religion-specific ceremonies or services, such as meditation, prayer, reading holy texts, observance of holy days, etc.
- Provide grief support. See the Whole Health handout “Coping with Grief Following a Death (PDF)” for more information
- Assist with ethical concerns
- Communicate between the care team, you, and family members
- Assist with discharge planning and connect you with support, such as clergy members in your community
- Help honor the work you have done for your country
- Help with feelings of guilt and self-forgiveness. After leaving active duty, some people feel guilty about things they had to do during their military service. This may include things they would not have done during peacetime.
- Help you connect or reconnect with God or a higher power
Chaplain coverage is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, particularly in urgent situations or emergencies. Every VA Medical Center (VAMC) has a chapel available for use by all Veterans and their families that represent a broad spectrum of religious traditions. The VA chapel can be used for services, prayer, meditation and quiet contemplation.
Chaplain locations
Interfaith Chapel Building 19
1601 Brenner Avenue
Salisbury, NC
This Interfaith Chapel is available for use by Veterans, their family members and staff 8:30am to 3:30pm Sunday through Friday. It typically is used for service, prayer, meditation, and quite contemplation.
Contact a chaplain
- VA chaplain coverage is always available, especially in urgent situations or emergencies.
- Call our VA chaplains at 704-638-9000, ext. 13330 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. They will return phone messages during regular business hours.
- On call chaplain available 24/7 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily. Contact the AOD at extension 12570.
- Ask your nurse or health care provider to schedule a chaplain consult.
- Walk into the chaplain office for a visit if the chaplain’s schedule is open.
Worship service schedule
Sunday Protestant Service: April 10th - 9am.
Sunday Catholic Mass: 12:00 Noon
Daily Catholic Mass: 12:00 Noon, Monday/Tuesday/ Thursday
Spiritual counseling and religious services
Our chaplains help patients and family members through outpatient treatment, hospital stays, and extended care. If needed, they will contact your personal clergy or spiritual care provider in the community. Our chaplains are clinical pastoral care specialists who provide religious and non-religious people with services such as:
- Baptisms
- Bereavement (grief and loss) care
- Comfort and counseling
- Communion
- Funerals
- Marital support
- Weddings
Benefits
Research shows that spiritually active patients experience or report:
- Faster healing
- Greater coping skills
- Reduced pain
- Better quality of life
Support groups
Chaplains understand the importance of having the support you need, when you need it. We serve and support our Veterans in many different groups, like:
- Combat trauma
- Grief
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Moral Injury
- Significant other
- Vietnam Veterans
- Warrior to Soul Mate (W2SM)
- Women Veterans Spirituality
Volunteer with the Chaplain Service
VA Salisbury health care’s program No Veteran Dies Alone supports Veterans who would otherwise be alone at the end of life. We need mature and caring volunteers to help with:
- Clerical support
- Family support
- Patient support
- Program coordination
Meet the Chaplains
Jason Riggs
Chief, Chaplain Service
VA Salisbury health care
Phone: